Lack of facilities and resources in Balochistan once again resounded in the National Assembly on Thursday when Baloch lawmaker Abdul Qadir regretted long intervals of power outages and gas shortage in the province. “We produce power and it is used by Sindh. We produce gas and it is used by [the] whole country. Our people are living in darkness and in extreme cold and both the facilities are still a far cry for them,” he said on a point of order.
Giving statistics to prove his stance, the member mentioned that total 2,200MW of electricity is produced from two projects in his province; Hub and Uch power. “Out of this production, 1,600MW power is provided to Sindh and we are given only 600MW against our requirement of 1800MW. Why this step-motherly treatment with our people. At least our right should be acknowledged on what we produce.”
He also complained of lack of infrastructure in the province to supply power and mentioned under-construction power supply lines of 225 MW each, one from Dadu to Khuzdar and other from DG Khan to Loralai. “None of the projects could be completed during last two years despite repeated assurances. We are simply shedding crocodile tears but no practical steps are taken.” Abdul Qadir Baloch also mentioned illegal tube-well connections in the province that were ruthlessly sucking out the groundwater posing serious threat to apple and pomegranate gardens. The water table has gone down to 1,000 feet and this fruit basket of the country is ruining gradually.
Another member from Balochistan, Maulvi Asmatullah reminded the government of its commitment to regularise 5,000 schoolteachers in the province. “They are awaiting confirmation since a promise was made on December 12, 2012 to issue the letters within 15 days. For us, Aghaz-e-Huqooq Balochistan is still a dream to be materialized. Our teachers are crossing age limit and await regularisation,” he said. Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah assured the members that confirmation letters for the Balochistan teachers would soon be issued.
“The government has regularised around 209,000 employees,” Shah said and mentioned to recent decision to regularise 105,000 lady health workers. “Regularisation is our policy and we shall continue securing the future of the unemployed in the country.” He said the credit for the all achievements goes to parliament, adding that the government would complete its tenure and parliament would continue working until the last day.
“We have enriched the credibility of the parliament. We have respected the mandate of the people. Let us appreciate the good done by the government and the Parliament,” he added. He said, “Only the PPP and its allies can create new provinces and we shall fulfill the dream of our forefathers to give a separate province to people of southern Punjab and end their deprivation.” Later, the House will meet again on Saturday at 11am.
Separately, the National Assembly was informed that around 10,584 cases for obtaining more than one passport were blocked in automated finger identification system (AFIS). In a written reply to a question, the House was told that obtaining of more than one passport was not possible as the AFIS was operational since November 2006. The attempt for issuance of more than one passport against the multiple CNICs by a person either with same or different particulars were automatically blocked. Giving the breakup, it was told that, as many as 5,404 cases were blocked in Punjab, 1,530 in Sindh, 2,158 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 27 in FATA, 361 in AJK, 269 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 264 in Balochistan, 114 in Islamabad and 457 in foreign mission.
