Islamabad:
National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Saturday asked Balochistan parliamentarians and public representatives to propose solutions to the social and economic problems faced by the province and its people.
Qaiser, who chaired the first meeting of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan at Parliament House, said the CPEC started from Gilgit-Baltistan and culminated in Balochistan, which increased the importance of the province.
“Balochistan and its issues have always been a priority for the current government,” he said. “Parliament and the people’s representatives are the best option to put forward solutions to the social and economic issues faced by Balochistan and its people,” he said.
“Pakistan’s progress is linked to peace and progress in Balochistan,” Qaiser said, stressing the need for the committee to consider matters related to ensuring that the real benefits of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor are conveyed to the local people.
Qaiser said that committees in the parliamentary system across the world played a recommendatory role and therefore, this committee will make comprehensive efforts to recommend the best possible solutions to the issues faced by Balochistan.
The spokesman stated that the issuance of an executive order, regarding the immediate implementation of the 6% employment quota in all federal departments, confirms Prime Minister Imran Khan’s seriousness towards addressing the issues of Balochistan.
On this occasion, the speaker formed a four-member subcommittee, headed by Dr. Fehmida Mirza, to develop comprehensive terms of reference covering all issues related to Balochistan. It was also decided to invite a representative of the Balochistan National Party and Defense Minister Pervez Khattak to assist the subcommittee in developing the terms of reference.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Qasim Khan Suri, appreciated the initiative of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to form the special committee.
He pointed out that the government is seriously considering resolving the issues facing peace and development in the governorate.
Mirza, Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister, told the committee that Balochistan issues have always been the top priority of parliamentarians.
She noted that comprehensive terms of reference were necessary to make the committee more effective. Khattak said that the government has taken various steps to alleviate the grievances of the people of Balochistan.
Representing Balochistan National Party leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal, National Assembly MP Agha Hassan Baloch asserted that Balochistan’s issues have become acute since 2006 and need to be addressed immediately.
He called for studying the recommendations that were proposed after a meeting between the previous parliamentary committee headed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and the late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 28y2020.