ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said on Sunday that the government was determined to protect the rights of all the federating units, including Balochistan.

Talking to Pakistan Muslim League Secretary-General Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, the prime minister said the government would seek to resolve all inter-provincial issues through dialogue with the national and provincial leadership.

He said the government was striving to strengthen an egalitarian society in the country and its roadmap was based on the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. "Pakistan is an egalitarian society which provides full rights to the minorities as well as the federating units and we believe that the Quaid's vision remains our roadmap for economic and democratic development of the country," Senator Hussain quoted the prime minister as saying.

He gave a presentation to Chaudhry Shujaat at the prime minister's house about the arrangements made by the party to celebrate the Independence Day. The prime minister emphasized that strenuous efforts should be made for enhancing inter-provincial harmony and urged all the quarters concerned to resolve all the outstanding issues through political negotiations.

The PML secretary-general said Chaudhry Shujaat had himself taken the initiative by telephoning Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti last week to seek an amicable resolution of disputes and end misunderstandings.

He said he had met Baloch nationalist leaders Senator Sanaullah Baloch and Ijaz Jogezai and requested them to come up with an agenda for discussing all the contentious issues with the government.

He said Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf, Governor Owais Ghani and the PML leadership were playing their role for removing the grievances of Baloch nationalists.

He said some legitimate demands of the Baloch had not been addressed by previous governments and those must be given consideration. He claimed that the PML government was the first one which had taken significant steps for the welfare of the people of Balochistan.

He said the construction of Meerani Dam, Gwadar Port, Coastal Highway and cantonments would benefit the people of the province. He said opening of army recruitment centres in Balochistan would minimize grievances of the Baloch.

In reply to a question, he said the Pano Aqil cantonment project too was viewed as anti-Sindhis but today it was the sole reason of economic prosperity in its area. He said the prime minister called for coordination between the party and the government for making the Independence Day celebrations memorable. He said the prime minister directed all his cabinet members to participate in the festivities.

The PML leader youth rallies had been planned throughout the country on Aug 13. On Aug 14, flag-hoisting ceremonies would be held at important places, including prime minister's house.

He said the party would organize a minorities' conference in Lahore on Aug 15 and a seminar on Aug 16 to commemorate the Direct Action Day, which was observed on the day in 1946 on the directions of the Quaid-i-Azam.