QUETTA – Terming the people of Balochistan patriotic, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said his government was taking concrete steps to address their grievances.
Gilani, who arrived in Quetta on Sunday to have an on-spot review of the worsening security situation, told a PPP delegation at the Governor House that government would fight this challenge by winning back the estranged through exemplary development.
Foreign forces helping the insurgents were in fact eyeing huge resources of Balochistan, Gilani remarked earlier when he landed at the airport, where he was received by Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani along with other PPP leaders. “But the PPP-led government will not let them succeed in their nefarious designs,” he added.
Later, in the meeting with the party delegation, which was led by PPP provincial president Mir Sadiq Umrani, the prime minister announced that another 10,000 youth of the province would be given employment in different federal departments while 5,000 students would be sent abroad for training.
Gilani said that the share of Balochistan in 7th National Finance Commission Award had been tripled from Rs40 billion to Rs120 billion. He said that Rs5 billion would be distributed amongst the deserving families in the province. The PM said that Rs1 billion had been given for the provision of gas facility to Chagai and Rs4.1 billion for the development of Sui and Kohlu.
Prime Minister said that Rs3.2 billion had been allocated this year for the completion of Gwadar Rato-Dero Road which would help make the Gwadar Port functional besides improving connectivity between three provinces. After completion of Kachhi Canal, an economical revolution would come in the province, he added.
The prime minster said the people of Balochistan were patriotic and talented who only need opportunities for which PPP was making hectic efforts. “Balochistan is very close to my heart.” He directed Balochistan chief secretary to identify 15,000 graduates who will be given employment by the federal government in different departments.
 “1,500 people would be recruited in Federal Levies Force while more 10,000 youth would be given employments. And 5,000 students would be sent abroad for getting training in their respective fields,” he informed. Gilani also told the delegations that federal government had set aside Rs6 billions to provide scholarships to Balochistan youth and created opportunisms for them to get education in the reputed institutions of the country.

Under 18th amendment, provisional autonomy has been granted to the provinces to empower them, he said. Subsidy was being given on solar energy and establishment of IT centres throughout the country would generate jobs opportunities for millions of jobless people, he added.
Referring to Afghan transit trade, the PM said the country would collect billions of dollars in revenue from it. “PPP incumbent government has also taken steps for further strengthening ties with Iran, China and other friend countries,” he added.



We’ll win patriotic Baloch back: PM