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Afghan war destroyed world peace: Baloch
QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said that the Afghan war and the international policy towards jihad has spoiled the peace of the world.
He said eradication of extremism was associated with eradication of poverty and unemployment, adding that better ties between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran were in the interest of this region and all three countries. He expressed these views addressing and responding to the questions of participants of allied officers hailing from 25 friendly countries getting training in Staff College Quetta, on Tuesday. Balochistan Chief Secretary Saifullah Chatta, Provincial Minister Dr Hamid Achakzai, Additional Chief Secretary Development Ali Zaheer Hazara and provincial secretaries were also present on the occasion.
The chief minister said that after Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the policy of international powers towards jihad badly affected the peace across the world. “In order to get rid of extremism, terrorism and sectarianism poverty, illiteracy and unemployment need to be addressed forthwith,” he said, adding that international community would have to play its role in this connection otherwise the demon of poverty would continue to fuel terrorism and extremism.
He said that we wanted better relations with all nations particularly with our neighbours as the good ties between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran were not only in the interest of entire region but also all three countries.
Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said that provincial government was struggling through a democratic way to achieve its rights from the centre, adding that 18th Constitutional Amendment was a healthy development in empowering provinces and strengthening democracy. “Other than five subjects all other departments have been transferred to provinces, and without the consent of provinces no agreement could be made by centre,” he added.
Responding to a question, he said that they were making efforts to ensure the quota of Balochistan in federal services and have appropriate representation in centre.
The chief minister told the participants that improvement of law and order situation in the province was the top priority of the provincial government while government was also striving hard to improve agriculture, livestock, minerals, fisheries and mining. “Government has taken steps for capacity building of police, levies and other law enforcement agencies due to which law and order situation has improved in the province, and kidnapping for ransom has reduced to a great extent,” he said.
He said that still 2.3 million children were out of schools and Rs 62 billion was needed to the provincial government to open schools and ensure basic facilities while the government had only Rs 45 billion in hands. He said that first time in the history of the province the government allocated 26 percent of budget for educational sector and a huge amount had also been set aside for improvement of health sector. “We are also facing energy crisis but after completion of two main transmission lines in the province the energy issue is being resolved that would help improve agriculture which would bolster the economy of the people”, he said.
Referring to Baloch insurgency, the chief minister said that government was trying to initiate talks with Baloch resistance groups and bring them to dialogue table. He dispelled the impression about deteriorating law and order situation in the province and said that the situation in the province was comparatively better than other provinces of the country.
Baloch said the provincial government would provide every possible security to investors as there was a vast opportunity of making investment in Balochistan. “We would soon organise Balochistan Forum in Islamabad that would attract the investors,” he added.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk