After not more than a month of Islamabad’s backtracking from its promise of reviewing China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Prime Minister Imran Khan promised with Balochistan cabinet on October 6 that his government would review CPEC pact to address the reservations of Balochistan.
Khan said that the centre would work with Balochistan as a partner and they would not make any such promise for which we might have to excuse later on.”
He said Gwadar and its role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an “opportunity” that can bring immense benefits for the province if it is utilized. He noted that 800,000 acres of land can be used for agricultural purposes if Balochistan is given its water share through the Kachhi Canal.
Khan said incidents of terrorism had led to a major brain drain from Balochistan and vowed that the government will make efforts to send qualified professionals to the province. He also announced that the government will conduct a feasibility study on providing cancer treatment in Balochistan, so its residents do not have to travel to other cities.
Khan was in Quetta in his maiden visit of Balochistan after assuming the office and told the province that the country was currently facing financial issues hoping the government would get rid of such difficulty soon.
A day before premier’s arrival, Balochistan’s Finance Minister Mir Arif Jan Muhammad Hasni said that Balochistan was facing a severe financial crisis warning that it would deteriorate if immediate measures were not taken by Islamabad to bail out the province.
Hasni said the province was facing a deficit of Rs75 billion in the current budget. They would take up the matter with the prime minister.
Previous government passed a Rs352bn budget for the financial year 2018-19 allocating Rs88bn for the annual Public Sector Development Program (PSPD).
How would such a hefty deficit be bridged is the biggest challenge which Hansi would be met with the help of Islamabad but it too is running short of money.
Balochistan claims to have set aside Rs75 bn for PSDP and is forced to introduce a cut in the number of schemes designed by its predecessors.
Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan has decided to surrender his discretionary grant which his predecessor spent to the Rs830 million last year.
Hasni said Balochistan received Rs350bn under 7th NFC award in last eight years but the sum was wasted over exploration of minerals and tourism, which did not yield any benefits.
Of the biggest expenditures, law and order swallows huge money which has deflated to Rs40 billion from merely Rs5 billion.
The situation has affected social sectors including health Prime Minister on the other side says Balochistan is the future of Pakistan and our team will do its best to overcome all of the problems prevalent in the province.
PM Khan said the completion of Kachhi canal would bring an agricultural revolution in Balochistan. Of the 363-km long canal starting from Taunsa Barrage at Indus River, 281 km lies in Punjab and 80 km in Balochistan.
