Pakistan’s progress directly linked with Balochistan, says PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that the point to ponder over was that what were the reasons which led to the resurgence of militancy in the country, when the menace had been contained by 2018, adding Pakistan's progress is directly linked with prosperity of Balochistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing Balochistan Workshop participants in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz Sharif said said that despite the fact that Balochistan was rich in mineral resources, still much of these resources remain untapped to this day.

He said that road connectivity was a big issue in the province. “Similarly, the supply of electricity to the far-flung areas of the province is also an issue.”

The prime minister said that the people of the province had rich traditions. “The Baloch leaders decide to accede to Pakistan of their own free will,” he said, adding, “However, we must hold on and find out the reasons due to which the province remained backward.”

PM Shehbaz further said that the spirit of the federation was that people of all four provinces should live together in complete harmony.

Shehbaz Sharif, Saturday, stressed upon fostering affection, unity and brotherhood among all segments of society living in different provinces, coupled with sacrifices and hard work to overcome all the challenges. 

The prime minister said that problems did exist but Pakistan was like a shared home to everyone. It was their onus to remove the differences and distances and move together on the path of progress and peace, with affection, unity and sacrifices. 

He said that Balochistan had its own history, culture and blessed with immense natural resources worth trillions of dollars. These huge national resources of wealth were still buried under heavy mountains and unfortunately, what happened in the last few years, it was a matter of self-introspection, he added. 

During the creation of Pakistan, the leaders and sardars of Balochistan had gathered in Quetta and decided to join Pakistan, he said, adding Balochistan always took pride in its values and culture; the Baloch people had always been very generous and promoting those segments of societies who had either migrated to the province or living there for ages, including Punjabi migrants and other tribes. 

Shehbaz Sharif said that they had been living in Balochistan with complete harmony and peace for a long time. He further observed that nature had uniquely designed the province; small and sporadic populations where road infrastructure was a big challenge, and without proper road network, commuting was a difficult task.  

He informed that a road that ran from Karachi to Chaman, was locally called a ‘bloody road’ by the residents of the province due to frequent traffic collisions and casualties. 

To convert this bloody road into a peaceful avenue, he said, Rs350 billion amount was estimated, adding the petrol prices were announced every fortnightly, and at one occasion, when the prices were declined, they had decided to divert this amount of up to Rs180 billion rupees annually, for the construction of this road.  

Shehbaz said that when he had decided it, he had only one objective in his mind; to promote provincial harmony, affection, unity, progress, and from Peshawar to Karachi, there was no voice opposing his decision. 

Moreover, different challenges etched in history and to meet them, ‘the people of Balochistan should act like active participants and beneficiaries of the national economic trajectory and growth,’ he stressed. 

“These challenges needed to be discussed and addressed, as these will not only benefit the people of Pakistan but the people living in the province,” he opined. 

Shehbaz underlined that financial resources were required to address these challenges. He recollected that during the year 2010 when new NFC award was discussed under the government led by former prime minister Gilani and President Zardari, the chief ministers including him, had held a complete three days deliberations and in the meeting, he had announced that Punjab was ready to meet the then chief minister of Balochistan’s demand.

“It was memorable day in the history of Pakistan as they acted like brothers,” he said, adding that the distances and grievances required to be addressed.  

He maintained that during the year 2018, terrorism had been eliminated from the country, and it resurfaced again which required answers.