Healing touch: ‘Democracy can solve all Balochistan’s problems’

Addressing media men at the Lahore Press Club on Thursday, the chief minister said the economic and political issues of Balochistan could be resolved through democratic institutions.

“We have taken steps to make Balochistan a corruption-free province,” he said.

Baloch said the government of Balochistan had already held the local government elections in the province.

“General Pervez Musharraf’s ouster and induction of our government are positive changes… now all institutions including the judiciary and the election commission will contribute to a democratic Pakistan.”

Baloch said he wanted to thank Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for releasing Rs340 million for rehabilitation of earthquake victims of Balochistan.

He said his government was working on setting up two transmission lines and building Khichi Canal and several dams on priority basis to resolve the economic issues.

“Construction work on six universities and medical colleges has started… we all want to strengthen the Federation but the military governments in the past did not help the cause,” he said.

“Unfortunately these military governments had more representation from the Punjab… this made the Baloch people raise their voices against the Punjab,” he said.

In reply to a question, Baloch said that he was opposed to blocking the NATO supply route.

“I don’t think the country can progress if it isolates itself from the rest of the world.”

He said a stable Afghanistan would mean a stable Pakistan. “We also need to improve our relations with Iran and other neighboring countries,” he added.

Later, the chief minister announced financial aid for the Lahore Press Club. He urged the club’s members to visit Balochistan for a better understanding of the province’s issues.

Lahore Press Club president Arshad Ansari conferred honorary life membership of the club on the chief minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2013.