The Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that time has come for the nation to decide its own destiny as the people voted in February Elections for a positive change in the country. The Prime Minister said to a delegation of Balochistan's Cabinet led by the Chief Minister, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Riasani at the PM's House on Sunday.
He said, 'Our aim is to strengthen you, as you are the people's representatives and you are given the mandate to bring a change in the country.'
Gilani said that the Founder of nation, Quaid-e- Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benzir Bhutto dreamt for Parliamentary Democracy in the country and we must strengthen the Parliament. 'We are not against any person but we want to restore the 1973 constitution in its true spirit. Article 91 makes all the executive branches responsible to the National Assembly and we don't want to have institutions that are not answerable to anyone,' said Gilani.
Further, 17th amendment have disturbed the power balance and needs to be corrected, he added.
The Prime Minister mentioned that accountability mechanism already exists but we need to distinguish between the accountability and victimisation. Talking about his two-point strategy, he said that we should improve law and order situation and strengthen our economy.
He also handed over two authorisation letters to Balochistan CM for release of Rs6 billion. Gilani had announced this grant for Balochistan in June 2008. Gilani stated that he had already approved supply of gas for Surab and Naushki Towns at a cost of Rs680 million.
Other projects include electrification of Dalbandin District Headquarter at a cost of Rs640 Million and governor Tabuk will provide Rs320 Million for the purpose. He also said 100 low cost houses would be constructed in Quetta and a grant of Rs500 million was released to Balochistan in June 2008 for flood affectees. The Federal government has provided an amount of Rs42 Billion in PSDP 2008-09 for various development projects of the province.
The government has also allocated for the first time Rs5 billion in PSDP 2008-09 for Balochistan for establishment of Export Processing Zones. He approved the Minister from District Nasirabad's request for supply of electricity to the District Headquarter (Dera .Murad Jamali) from Uch Power Plant at a cost of Rs 430 million.
Funds for provision of electricity to 111 BHUs of Balochistan was approved and the number of LHVs to be recruited from Balochistan province has been doubled. The Prime Minister also pointed out that the value of gas from Sui Field has recently been raised from Rs116 to Rs137 per MMBTU.
He assured not to withdraw subsidy on agricultural tube wells in Balochistan. In addition, Gilani directed the Planning Commission to make immediate arrangements for payment of remaining amount of Rs520 million on account of damages in command area of Mirani Dam.
Prominent members of the delegation included, Muhammd Aslam Bhootnai, Speaker Balochistan Assembly, Molana Abdul Wasy, Senior Minister, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, Minister for S&GAD, Engineer Zamaruk Khan, Minister for Revenue, Mir Zafar Ullah Khan Zehri, Minister for Home, Syed Ehsan Shah, Minister for Industries, Cap(R) Abdul Khalik Khan Achakzai, Minister for Youth Affairs, Mir Jan Ali Changeazai, President, Programme for Quality Education, Abdul Khaliq Bashar Dost, Minister of LRGD, Mir Rustam Khan Jamali, Minister for Excise and Taxation, Sardar Muhammad Aslam Bizenjo, Minister for Irrigation and Power, Mir Abdul rehman Mengal, Minister for Mines and Minerals, Haji Ainullah Shams, Minister for Health, Hai Muhammad Nawaz, Minister BDA, Molvi Muhammad Sarwar, Minister for Labour and Manpower, Mir Muhammad Saim Kurd, Minister for Finance, Shama Parven Megsi, Minister for IT, Dr Ruqayya Saeed Hashmi, Minister for Inter Provincial Co-ordination, Mohammad Ismail Sujar, Minister for Urban Planning and Development, Muhammad Younas Mullazai, Minister for Information, Haji Ali Madad Jattak Minister for Food, Mir Amanullah Notezai, Minister for Transport and Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani, Minister for C and W, Rehmatullah Kakar, Federal Minister for Housing, Humanyun Aziz Khan, Federal Minister for Population.