QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo has assured assembly members that no cut will be made in the current Public Sector Devel­opment Programme budget and all available resources would be utilised for the rehabilitation of the flood-stricken areas of the province.

“We will not let the flood affectees along and helpless in any case,” he said while responding to the issues raised by the members of the assembly session which was presided over by acting speaker Sardar Babar Khan Musakhail, here on Monday evening.

Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) parliamentary leader Malik Naseer Ahmed Shahwani pointed out that despite the passage of five months many areas were still under floodwater. He said the government could not provide even tents to the flood-affected families.

However, Minister for Agriculture Asad Baloch said despite having limited resources, the provincial government had taken steps for rescue of and provision of relief to flood-stricken families. He said the Baloc­histan assembly through a resolution demanded a package of Rs22 billion but Islamabad did not resp­ond to it. He said all PDM member parties should put pressure on the centre for release of the grant that had been announced by the prime minister for Balo­chistan.

While taking the floor, opposition leader Malik Sikander Khan spoke on the law and order situation and said it had worsened. He said it was responsibility of the provincial government to provide security to former chief justice of Balochistan High Court and Federal Shariat Court Justice Noor Meskanzai, who was gunned down in his native town.

He also spoke about low gas pressure and illegal allotment of lands in Nosahar area of Quetta, owned by different tribes.

Nasarullah Zerey of PkMAP criticised the government over security situation and said one student was gunned down and three others were injured in Loralai while highways were also unsafe where robberies were being reported. He complained that members of the assembly were also vulnerable to any untoward incident, after the government had withdrawn security guards.

Mir Zahoor Buledi of the BAP expressed serious concern over deteriorating law and order situation and from a judge to a common man, nobody was safe. Mir Arif Jan Muhammad Hasni also talked about law and order and illegal allotment of land and demanded that adviser on home affairs should be called to the house so that he explain steps which had been taken in this regard.

Chief Minister Bizenjo said flood survivors would not be left helpless and all measures would be taken for their rehabilitation. He said the protection of the public representatives was government responsibility and the security provided to the members of the assembly was withdrawn after the high court order and expressed the hope that the issue would be resolved within a week. He said the provincial government’s effort was to make improvements wherever there was scope.

He said Balochistan was half of Pakistan and when it was submerged by floodwater, the administration and all the officials were on their toes for three months providing relief to flood survivors day and night. He said that the cooperation given by federal departments for Balochistan was an expression of their love; which should be appreciated. “We will do it by working tirelessly. So far, there has been no complaint of corruption in any of the relief work. The highways in the province have been restored as soon as possible,” he added.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2022