QUETTA, Jan 22: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Wednesday announced a relief package of Rs2 billion for drought-hit areas in Balochistan besides promising to provide other facilities to growers and livestock owners.

Speaking at a meeting with newsmen at his residence, he said it was the first time that a prime minister had been taken from Balochistan, which was an honour for the province.

“I have launched my official visits from Balochistan and I will make every possible effort to assist this backward province in its development and resolve problems of the masses here,” he said.

He termed Balochistan the mainstay of the economy and said the province possessed a great importance with respect to its geopolitical location. The province had great problems but they could be resolved through dedicated work and self help, he said.

“I have talked to the Balochistan cabinet and asked the ministers to devise uplift programmes for the province irrespective of party affiliation. I also met the provincial leaders of Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam), Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the National Alliance and asked them to cooperate with our government to strengthen democracy,” he maintained.

The prime minister said he would try to visit the provincial capital at least once in a month to keep himself abreast with the development activities in the province.

Regarding the problems being faced by the province, Jamali said: “I will try my best to resolve these problems and provide maximum facilities to the people.”

He said no injustice would be done with Balochistan and it would be given its share in federal departments’ services.

He said electricity and gas supply to all areas of the province would be ensured and promised installation of grid stations in Soorab and Zehri, provision of gas and establishment of a cadet college in Chaman.

He said Pakistan International Airlines flights from Quetta to Zhob would be resumed and mobile teams constituted for issuance of national identity cards to people in the province.

He announced approval of a grid station for Naal in Khuzdar district, electricity supply to Lasbela by the Water and Power Development Authority instead of Karachi Electric supply Corporation and making services of daily wage workers of Gawadar Port permanent.

The prime minister disclosed that an agriculture college would be established in Nasirabad.

“As far as provision of free education is concerned, I am unable to provide this facility to the province at the moment due to financial restrictions. However, I may take steps for launching a scholarship programme,” he said.

Jamali said frontier corps checkpoints on the highways had been reduced from 60 to five. “I have directed the FC not to create hardships to the people and discharge their duties honestly. However, I also appeal to the people not to indulge in illegal activities, including smuggling, otherwise strict action would be taken against them,” he remarked.

He said he had directed the provincial government to reduce its non-development expenditure and spend the most on uplift schemes.

He said: “I have asked the political parties to sit together and decide suitable candidates for the Senate. We are trying to maintain the same coalition in Senate which is running the governments in Sindh, Balochistan and the Centre.”

Replying to a question about drought control programme, he said: “I have directed the irrigation ministry to conduct a survey in the province to harness flood water that goes into the sea.”

He said he had offered his services to the Balochistan government for preparing its case to be presented in the National Finance Commission.

Replying to another question, he said the foreign policy had not been changed with the change in government. It could only be changed in accordance with the interest of the country, he added.—APP