KARACHI, July 29 Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said the government was making “sincere efforts” to address Balochistan's grievances.

Speaking at a meet-the-press programme of the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, he said the constitutional committee was also striving to find a solution to the issue along with constitutional amendments.

In reply to a question, he said that there were political, constitutional and financial aspects of the issue and its solution would not benefit Balochistan alone, but all provinces.

The minister said the committee would finalise its recommendations about constitutional amendments, including the 17th Amendment and Article 58-2(b), in a few weeks.

“The PPP believes that survival of Pakistan depends on democracy and all its decisions are aimed at strengthening democratic institutions,” Mr Kaira observed.

He said the government had already constituted the Council of Common Interests and decisions would be taken by parliament, and not by an individual.

Answering a question, he said the government would not protect former president Pervez Musharraf, but it would honour the Supreme Court's decision.

In reply to another question, the minister said the Indus River System Authority was an autonomous body and taking decisions about water distribution independently.

The government could be held responsible only if an indent of the Sindh government was lying with Irsa.

According to his information, there was no deviation from the 1991 water accord, he added.

Mr Kaira said that Pakistan had not handed over to India any proof of its involvement in Balochistan, but expressed apprehension about the unrest in that province. Pakistan and India had agreed to work for sustainable peace in the region, instead of hurling accusations at each other, he said.

The minister recalled the challenges being faced by the government and said some unpopular decisions had been taken in larger interest of the country. The policy of reconciliation pursued by the government had helped overcome the challenges, he added.

Inflation had come down to 13 per cent from 23 per cent because the government's policies had revived the economy, Mr Kaira claimed.

The information minister said the government had to import three million tons of wheat last year, but now it had a stock of 10 million tons — two million tons more than the country's requirement. Rice and cotton crops were also very good this year, he said.

The minister said the setting up of the Eighth Wage Board for newspaper employees had been announced and asked owners of print and electronic media houses to pay dues of the Seventh Wage Board Award to their employees before receiving their outstanding dues from the government.

The minister assured journalists that he had taken up the issues of allotment of plots to journalists and registry of the KPC building with the Sindh government.

He gave a cheque of Rs1.5 million to the Karachi Press Club.