QUETTA, Nov 24: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said his National Party and its allies had a vision to eliminate corruption, ensure good governance and provide quality education and health services to the people of the underdeveloped province.

Speaking at a lunch hosted by him for the president and members of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) here on Sunday, he said he stood for promoting education and the culture of book reading in order to eliminate terrorism.

He said his coalition government would make efforts to restore peace and law and order in the province.

The chief minister said his government was working hard to improve the education and health infrastructure that had been badly affected by corruption and other problems in the province.

Mr Baloch said lawyers’ fraternity could play a vital role in putting the province on the right track and strengthening democratic institutions.

“We have learnt a lot from lawyers’ fraternity,” he said and added that the bar and the bench had always raised their voice for people’s rights.

He congratulated the newly elected president of the SCBA, Kamran Murtaza, who belongs to Balochistan, and other office-bearers and announced a Rs5 million grant for the association.

He said a library would be set up in the bar office and a housing scheme would be launched in Quetta for lawyers.

Balochistan Minister for Law and Information Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal admitted that there was a shortage of public prosecutors in the province and added that the government was planning to recruit prosecutors.

He said the government wanted to ensure that no one was above the law. “We have made commitment with people to end corruption and establish rule of law and writ of the government.”

Mr Murtaza said the issue of missing persons and dumping of mutilated bodies was contributing to unrest in the province and urged the government to take measures to resolve the issue. He said lawyers were ready to provide legal assistance to resolve people’s grievances.