LAHORE  - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the prime minister’s step of constituting a committee for holding talks with Taliban reflected the government’s sincerity to restore peace in the country.
“The government wants to give peace a chance, so it is acting with its utmost sincerity to this direction,” the chief mister said while talking to media at the ceremony wherein Punjab and Balochistan signed three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for the promotion of cooperation in solid waste management, urban development and parks and horticulture sectors. He said that the government through the dialogue offer proved it’s sincerely for promoting peace in the country and making serious efforts in this regard. He expressed the hope that a positive response would also be given by the other side.
Replying to a question, Shahbaz said that the agreements signed between Punjab and Balochistan governments for the promotion of mutual cooperation would further improve ties between the two provinces. He said that the Punjab government is ready to extend its cooperation to other provincial governments as being a bigger province, Punjab has a greater responsibility. He said that funds have been allocated for setting up a cardiac hospital in Balochistan and now the Balochistan government should make further progress so that the project of hospital could be completed.
Shahbaz said that the holding of local bodies elections in Balochistan is a welcome step and all its credit goes to the provincial government and its people. However, he said, the matters regarding the conduct of local bodies elections in Punjab is up to the judiciary, and Election Commission has informed the Supreme Court that local bodies elections cannot be held within the deadline.
He said that the Election Commission’s every decision would be implemented with letter and spirit.
Earlier, Provincial Minister for Law and Local Government, Rana Sanaullah Khan and Minister for Local Government Balochistan Sardar Mustafa Khan Tareen signed the MoUs under which the Punjab government would provide cooperation to the Balochistan government in solid waste management, urban development and parks and horticulture sectors. The Punjab government will also provide expertise to Balochistan in these sectors. The Balochistan government would be provide all-out facilities in disposal of solid waste in Quetta while the urban unit of the Punjab government will provide necessary skill in master planning of the cities, solution of problems through information and communication and monitoring of development schemes. Similarly, the Balochistan government would be provided expertise regarding development of parks and horticulture.
Addressing on the occasion, Shahbaz said that Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch-led government is striving for the uplift of Balochistan. He said that the Punjab government would do its level best for cooperating and serving Baloch people.
Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Mustafa Khan Tareen said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif extended deep respect and love to the Baloch delegation, which would further strengthen brotherhood between the provinces. He said that Balochistan now has a democratic government in the real sense which will make up for the excesses committed in the past. He said that transfer of power to the genuine public representatives of Baloch people by the Prime Minister is unprecedented. He said that earlier, the people were running away from Balochistan but now the situation is different and they are talking of unity and peace. He thanked Shahbaz Sharif for extending cooperation in different sectors and said that it is a good beginning and would help the country get progress.
Provincial Minister for Housing Tanvir Aslam Malik, Lahore Transport Company Chairman Kh Ahmed Hassaan, the Planning & Development Chairman, Balochistan Local Government Secretary, Quetta Administrator and authorities concerned were also present on the occasion.