Current LG system root cause of corruption, lawlessness: Raisani

QUETTA: The local government system is the cause of growing corruption and lawlessness at the grassroots level, Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani said on Tuesday. The chief minister said the government in Balochistan intended to replace the “Musharraf devolution plan” with a new system that would bring the district governments under the control of the provincial government.

Demands: Raisani reiterated his demand for cancellation of all agreements with foreign companies regarding the Gwadar Port, Reko Diq and Saindak signed by the previous government without taking the economic interests of Balochistan into account.

Raisani told journalists that his government was constantly in touch with the federal government to devise a plan to bring peace and prosperity to the province. In order to win the trust of the Baloch people, the federal government should cancel the agreements previously signed with foreign companies to run the Gwadar Port, Reko Diq and Saindak projects because the existing agreements did not serve the interests of the Baloch people. He demanded that a local of Balochistan should always lead the Gwadar Port Authority.

Raisani said the government was considering developing economic zones in Quetta, Khuzdar, Naseerabad, Uthal, Windar and Khanozai to boost the province’s economy. “A lot of countries have demonstrated their interest in investing in Balochistan. We will welcome foreign investment in the province,” Raisani said, adding that a special train would run from Rawalpindi to Iran and then to Turkey to attract investment to the province.

Given Balochistan’s large territorial area, the chief minister said new ports would be established in Ormara, Gadani and Pasni areas in the future for the purpose of lessen the burden on the Gwadar Port.

Source: Daily Times