Addressing a point of order during the Balochistan Assembly session on Wednesday, the Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani said that funds of devolved ministries should be allocated to provinces till the next NFC. Earlier, Engineer Zamrik Khan congratulated CM Raisani, ANP chief Asfand Yar Wali and head of the constitutional committee Raza Rabbani for their efforts in achieving this historical moment. He urged the center to provide extra budget to provinces.
Leader of the house Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani said all four chief ministers wanted the centre to continue funding for these departments till the next NFC award is announced. He said chief ministers of all four provinces will sit together and decide the future plan if the federal government rejected provision of funds to provinces.
Legislators expressed anger at powers transfer to the Frontier Corps in Balochistan under the Customs Act. This, they believed, was creating difficulties for people in the province.
Provincial Agricultural Minister and leader of Balochistan National Party-Awami Asad Baloch said Balochistan was an agricultural zone and a large number of tube-wells were being operated with diesel due to the electricity shortage. He said Frontier Corps were creating difficulties in diesel transportation which had dampened agriculture. He said role of the Frontier Corps in the province had been negative and feared further problems will arise after greater power under the Customs Act. Supporting Asad Baloch’s plea, the provincial minister Zahoor Buledi said Balochistan shared a long border with Iran and Afghanistan while 70 to 80 percent of its people lived below the poverty line. He urged the government to opt for concrete steps to address this important issue and demanded withdrawal of Frontier Corps powers under the Customs Act.
Speaking on another point of order, provincial minister Jaffar George said it had been announced that a five percent quota of jobs in all departments will be allocated for minorities but its notification was yet to be issued. He demanded the government to ensure a five percent quota for minorities in all departments.
The house passed Balochistan Employees Efficiency and Discipline Bill 2011 tabled by Captain (retd) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai on behalf of the provincial minister for services and general administration. Later, session of the house was adjourned for an indefinite period.
