Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and chairperson Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) Ms Farzana Raja, Federal Minister for Postal Services Mir Israrullah Zehri had accompanied the President during his Quetta visit.
President Asif Ali Zardari inaugurated ‘Wasila-e-Haq’ program at Governor House Quetta to help the poor and needy families start their own business.
Ms Farzana Raja had announced the government decision to implement new schemes of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) in Balochistan in line with Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan package. She maintained that under the BISP, over Rupees two billion stipends had been disbursed amongst needy women in the Balochistan.
She mentioned that President Asif Ali Zardari wanted stern action on reports of bungling in BISP funds? disbursement and Ministry of Postal Service had been ordered to take departmental action against its those employees found involved in any misappropriation. She said a survey was being launched across Balochistan to collect data about genuine needy and deserving people.
She said the President was keen on introducing smart card system for BISP stipend disbursement to enable the registered needy people to get it via electronic system every month instead of via Pakistan Post.
Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Alslam Raisani who remained with President during the Quetta visit, later talking to media linked the resolution of Balochistan issue with implementation of Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan package.
Nawab Raisani said that President Zardari’s statement at Governor House Quetta that angry Baloch nationalist should avoid resorting to violence as the democratic government was taking practical steps to meet their all legitimate demands, raised hopes. The Balochistan Chief Minister said that President Zardari sincerely wanted to resolve years’ long problems being faced by the people of Balochistan.
However, he sought the provincial government’s control on mine and mineral exploration projects particularly Reko Deq and others.
Commenting on President Zardari’s visit to Quetta, Deputy Chairman Senate Jan Muhammad Jamali said that proposed Constitutional Package should focus on transfer of control on resources and coastline to Balochistan. He underlined the need to empower provinces in letter and spirit following the demand for provincial autonomy.
Balochistan Irrigation Minister Aslam Bizenjo told APP that construction work on 20 delay action dams out of 100 for Balochistan was underway and would soon be completed. He said the federal government had sanctioned more Rs.10 billion for 26 delay action dams to be constructed in second phase of the plan.
He said the provincial government would soon receive the sanctioned funds.
During his Quetta visit, the President had inaugurated the 180-meter long Lakpass Tunnel that has been completed with an amount of Rs.921 million. It is the shortest route connecting Quetta to Iran through N-40 and Karachi through N-25.
Meanwhile, Chief of his own faction of Jamhori Watan Party (JWP) Nawab Aali Bugti addressing a ceremony of tribal chieftains in Dera Bugti on Sunday said that the operation launched by Pervez Musharraf had displaced 80,000 people of Dera Bugti. He said the measures initiated by the government had encouraged a number of people to return to Dera Bugti, but still more was required in this regard.
Nawab Aali viewed that Balochistan issue could be resolved if immediate steps were taken to give due rights to the Baloch people.
Another incident which was birth of a child in a motor rickshaw also drew attention of the masses. The inconvenience caused due to VVIP movement was regretted by the President and he announced Rs 500000 for the the child.
Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Samina Raziq told APP that she had visited the family and handed over the money.
