ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Balochistan is Pakistan’s richest province and that its people have the first right over the province’s natural resources.
Addressing a workshop on Balochistan in Islamabad, the prime minister said there was no denying the wealth of Balochistan’s resources, but stressed that taking someone’s life merely on the basis of their identity card was unacceptable.
He said the issues facing Balochistan should be resolved through dialogue, adding that anyone who takes up arms in the name of these issues cannot be considered a Pakistani.
“The purpose of dialogue is to listen to the people of Balochistan,” he said, adding that consultation and equitable distribution of resources were the best ways to address the province’s problems.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said hostile countries were behind terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said the government was working with Field Marshal Asim Munir on the construction of the N-25 highway from Karachi to Chaman, but regretted that workers involved in the project were being killed.
He alleged that infiltrators were receiving resources from hostile countries, while Pakistan’s security institutions were making sacrifices to protect the country.
The prime minister also highlighted the strategic importance of Gwadar Port, saying it could accommodate vessels carrying up to 100,000 metric tonnes. He described the port as a gift from Pakistan’s “great friend” China.
He said the government was providing solar systems to farmers in Balochistan and working to improve electricity supply in the province.
Prime Minister Shehbaz added that the Punjab government had allocated Rs11 billion for Balochistan.
