Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Sunday that no compromise on integrity and sovereignty of the country would be made and the writ of the state would be maintained at all costs.
"We will maintain peace in Balochistan, and possess much resources and power to curb the elements trying to disrupt peace in the province", he added.
Addressing a press conference here at the Chief Minister Secretariat, the prime minister said the government believes in the peaceful resolution of problems through dialogue. For that purpose, a favourable atmosphere is needed for which "We are making efforts," he added.
He, however, said there are few elements which are perhaps not interested in dialogue and are adamant to disrupt peace through sabotage activities.
"We want solution to problems through mutual consultation and consent, but will maintain the writ of the state at the same time", he said, adding the government would take every step which is in the interest of the country.
The prime minister said there are few areas in Balochistan where the law and order situation is not better, but the government is taking steps for its improvement.
"No government wants that any damage be caused to people or national assets, hence, efforts are underway to establish the government's writ", he said.
Referring to development of Balochistan, Shaukat Aziz said the federal government is paying special attention to the province in this regard. The allocation of 56 percent of the Khushhal Pakistan Programme fund amounting Rs 2.8 billion for the district governments in Balochistan is also part of the same, he added.
"This time, we have not made mere announcement, but distributed cheques among the District Nazims on the spot", he said, and added the government has also directed Nazims to utilise these funds only for specific purposes aimed at improving the living standard of the people.
The federal government is also aware of the financial crisis of the Balochistan government, and has provided a debt relief of Rs 1.7 billion, besides a grant of Rs 800 million to the province to help resolve the crisis.
"Moreover, Balochistan is the largest beneficiary of NFC Award, and it will also receive another Rs 6 billion during next fiscal year", he added.
The federal government is also implementing various mega projects in Balochistan to the tune of over Rs 140 billion, the completion of which would bring about a positive change in the province, the prime minister added.
Shaukat Aziz said the country had to bear a loss of Rs 300 billion due to deadly earthquake last year, but the government succeeded in bearing the loss due to improved economy of the country. To a question, he attributed price-hike to the escalating prices of oil in the international market, but said that the government is trying to ensure the sale of oil on the purchasing rate.
The prime minister said the government is also providing sugar, flour, pulses on discounted prices to low-income section of society at Utility Stores, adding that more relief would also be provided to masses.
He said the government has also launched a three-month course to impart technical training to people to enable them earn livelihood themselves instead of depending on government jobs.
To another question, the prime minister condemned the killing of Pakistani people in Afghan border town of Spin Boldak and said that Pakistan wants cordial relations with Afghanistan as they are close neighbours.
"We provided shelter to millions of Afghan refugees in our country during civil war in Afghanistan considering them as our brothers", he said.
Shaukat Aziz said the reconstruction process is now underway in Afghanistan, and it is hoped that the refugees residing in Pakistan would also return to their homeland to take active part in the development of their country.
Shaukat Aziz said the government has approved 30,000 new posts in various departments, including police and Frontier Corps in Balochistan as an endeavour to check unemployment.
He said these appointments would be made in the next two years. "We will also try to provide jobs to Balochistan youth in various departments of the federal government, more than their fixed quota", he added.
The prime minister, however, clarified that the government alone could not provide jobs to people and for that purpose 'we must have to encourage the private sector.'
Balochistan has great potential as there are multiple sectors, including mining, fisheries, agriculture, tourism, minerals, and livestock where huge investments could be made by the private sector, he said.
Shaukat Aziz urged Balochistan people to keep their minds open and be optimistic about the foreign investments in the province, saying the investors would not take their resources away. "The investment will cast positive impacts on their life as they will get jobs and their areas would make progress", he added.
The prime minister also stressed the need for improving the law and order, saying the investors would only be ready for investment in the province when the environment is conducive.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani hosted a lunch in honour of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here at the Governor House on Sunday.
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousaf, Federal Ministers Zobaida Jalal, Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind, Mir Naseer Mengal, Omar Ayub, Senate Deputy Chairman Jan Mohammad Jamali, elected members of the parliament, provincial ministers and senior officials also attended the lunch.
Meanwhile, speaking at a briefing to review development projects in the province, Shaukat Aziz said that the government would also make sure the optimum utilisation of resources, provided to Balochistan for the uplift schemes.
He said the government was keen to see that the mega projects, being implemented in the province, are completed at an accelerated pace and would ensure that they do not suffer delay due to shortage of funds.
He said the government would also ensure balance between mega and micro development projects so that the people could get better civic amenities, health and education facilities at their doorsteps.
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