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02.07.2008
Sindh urged to release Balochistan’s water
By Saleem Shahid
QUETTA, July 1: Members of the Balochistan Assembly on Tuesday called upon the Sindh government to release the province’s share of water from Indus.The assembly asked Minister for Irrigation Sardar Aslam Bizenjo to take up the matter with the Sindh government because districts irrigated by Pat Feeder and Khirthar canals were facing an acute shortage of water.Speaker Aslam Bhootani presided over the session.Mir Zahoor Khoso, who raised the issue of water shortage in Nasirabad and Jaffarabad districts on an adjournment motion, said that rice sowing had been severely affected.Ministers Sadiq Umrani and Rustam Jamali expressed concern over the attitude of the Sindh irrigation... details >>
30.06.2008
Balochistan on foreign investors’ radar screen
By Sabihuddin Ghausi
As the world prices of all minerals, metals, industrial raw materials and commodities go on rising, Balochistan has emerged as a bright spot on the international investors’ radar screen. ‘’We are not poor but the richest province in terms of resources,’’ a beaming Mehfooz Ali Khan, the provincial finance secretary, told a post- budget conference on June 22.“The provincial government should have its own petroleum and gas policy with a high level technical board to manage this area (mineral exploitation and investment) of vital interest’’, he said.“The price of chrome from local mine in Muslim Bagh was Rs3,500 a ton in 1998. It is now quoted at Rs38,000 a ton’’, Ghulam S... details >>
30.06.2008
Non-functional Gwadar Port
By Syed Fazl-e-Haider
The federal budget 2008-09 has earmarked Rs1 billion for setting up of Gwadar’s Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and Rs750 million for construction of new Gwadar international airport.In his budget speech, Balochistan Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd also vowed to take all possible steps for developing the port city. He said: “work on 350-bedded hospital and sports complex on a 300- acre plot is in progress”. The provincial government has allocated Rs10.2 million for the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA).The port has been built but it has not seen any significant related development on infrastructure and it is still without roads and rail links with the rest of the count... details >>
29.06.2008
Sindh stealing water: Balochistan
By Dilshad Azeem
ISLAMABAD: A high-level committee, notified by the Irsa chairman, was set up here on Saturday to fix responsibility, check theft and ensure smooth supply of water to Balochistan following its dispute with Sindh that has recently worsened.The committee will inspect on June 30 the most controversial water courses and submit its report to the federal government and the Indus River System Authority about the water discharges, sources within Balochistan Irrigation department said on Saturday.Balochistan claims to have been suffering 45 per cent shortage in the current Kharif season even in the scenario when there is zero per cent scarcity in the country and most of the reservoir... details >>
28.06.2008
Balochistan Assembly wants details of foreign mining contracts
* Irrigation minister says foreign companies reneging on promise to share copper and gold extraction profitsBy Malik Siraj Akbar QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly (BA) directed the provincial finance minister on Thursday to explain the details of an agreement signed between the previous Balochistan government and two mining companies from Chile and Brazil on a multi-billion dollar gold and copper project in Riko Diq, 40 kilometres off the RCD Highway between Nokhundi and Taftan.Balochistan Minister for Irrigation Sardar Muhammad Aslam Bizenjo said in a post-budget session of the assembly that he had learnt from sources that the foreign companies, which had promised to give a 25 percent share ... details >>
28.06.2008
Gwadar Port to refund $2 million: PSA default
By Parvaiz Ishfaq Rana
KARACHI, June 27: The Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) in its board meeting has decided to refund $2 million performance bond to the operator Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) despite the fact that the latter defaulted on its agreed business plan.Sources privy to GPA board meeting held on June 22, at a local hotel, told Dawn that some members raised objections over the decision to refund the performance bond to the port operator, who did not only fail to perform but also defaulted on its business plan.They said that as per the business plan the PSA was bound to use the port’s operational capacity up to 50 per cent in the year 2007 and 100 per cent capacity this year.On t... details >>
28.06.2008
Balochistan facing resource constraints
By Sabihuddin Ghausi
KARACHI, June 27: With a mega-size cabinet of more than four dozen members, the Balochistan government is facing political pressures, resource constraints and physical and social infrastructure demands.The province is almost half of Pakistan, with a tiny population that is widely scattered, and is in need of capital-intensive development schemes for logistics, education, health, business operations and what not.For the next fiscal year 2008-09, beginning from July, the Balochistan government is taking up implementation of Rs15.74 billion development plan which has a built-in deficit of Rs8.30 billion.Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has promised a Rs3 billion sp... details >>
26.06.2008
WB to provide $25m for Balochistan irrigation project
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has entered into an agreement with the World Bank for providing a credit of $25 million for the Balochistan Small Scale Irrigation Project.The accord was signed by Economic Affairs Division Acting Secretary Junaid Iqbal on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, Balochistan Additional Chief Secretary Ahmed Bakhsh Lehri and World Bank’s Yousapha B Crookes here on Wednesday.The government will repay the credit, being provided under the International Development Assistance (IDA), in 35 years including 10 years of grace period. The credit is interest-free, however service charges at the rate of 0.75 per cent per annum and commitment charges of 0.50 per cent on undisbursed balan... details >>
23.06.2008
Balochistan wants Rs19bn overdraft written off
By Sabihuddin Ghausi and Saleem Shahid
QUETTA, June 22: The Balochistan government is seeking a complete write-off of Rs19 billion overdraft it has with the State Bank of Pakistan.The issue will be raised with the Central Bank’s governor when she visits Quetta in the near future.“Our finances are in bad shape,” Balochistan Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd told a post-budget press conference here on Sunday.Balochistan Finance Secretary Mahfooz Ali Khan said the conversion of Rs19 billion overdraft into a loan payable on easy terms would also be acceptable.“We are paying Rs700 million penalty on this overdraft every year at the rate of four per cent,” he said and added that its conversion into ... details >>
22.06.2008
Rs71bn deficit budget for Balochistan
By Sabihuddin Ghausi
QUETTA, June 21: The cash-strapped Balochistan government on Saturday announced a budget of Rs71.19 billion for financial year 2008-09 which showed a deficit of Rs8.80 billion.“Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has promised to provide Rs3 billion special grant from his discretionary fund,” Balochistan Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd informed the provincial assembly in his budget speech. With this grant, the budget deficit would come down to Rs5.80 billion, which would be met by enhancing province’s own resources, he added.Like the outgoing fiscal year, the development outlay for 2008-09 is largely unfunded and it depends entirely on special grants from the Cen... details >>
21.06.2008
Cut in direct transfers to hit Sindh, Balochistan hard
By Sabihuddin Ghausi
KARACHI, June 20: The federal government is cutting down straight transfers to provinces to Rs62.63 billion in 2008-09 from Rs65.88 billion in 2007-08, which is hitting hard the oil and gas producing provinces of Sindh and Balochistan.Political and business circles in Karachi have taken notice of Rs3.25 billion cut in straight transfers related directly to oil and gas revenue, which is hitting most hard to Sindh and Balochistan when international oil and gas prices are on rise. The leadership of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been pretty vocal in raising Sindh’s political economy issues for last several years and is reported to be taking stock of the pre... details >>
20.06.2008
Provisions made for Rs70bn Balochistan budget
By Sabihuddin Ghausi
KARACHI, June 19: Balochistan leadership hopes to receive about Rs50 billion from the federal government next fiscal year. They also expect to get some concessions on servicing of State Bank’s overdraft now being converted into a soft loan.The federal government is also expected to show leniency in recovery of federal government cash development loans. Some foreign funds are also in the pipeline to help Balochistan government prepare Rs65 to Rs70 billion budget for next fiscal year.“Unlike three other provinces, Balochistan does not have enough resources to take up the exercise of making a budget for next fiscal year,” Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani informed a meetin... details >>
05.06.2008
Gwadar to get Rs 1.722 billion in PSDP 2008-09
By Ijaz KakakhelISLAMABAD: Keeping in view the strategic importance of Gwadar Port, the federal government has allocated Rs 1.722 billion for its development in the next fiscal year 2008-09.In this regard allocations for six ongoing and one new development project has been approved in National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided by Prime Minister of Pakistan. Total cost of these seven projects relating to development of Gwadar Port is Rs 27.681 billion. The single new project for Gwadar development is ‘construction, supply and installation of two Pontoons (low-level platforms) at Gwadar Fish Harbour-Mini Port’ worth Rs 33.400 million. The on-going six projects are: ‘Gwadar Deep Water Por... details >>
02.06.2008
Gwadar Port finally makes history
Ismat Sabir
At last the first ship carrying 60,000 tonnes of wheat docked, unloaded and safely sailed out from the Gwadar Port. The local company chartered a Panamax class vessel for importing wheat from Canada. The port authorities have faced a few difficulties during unloading, but it is hoped that the next ship will be handled with more care and safety, as per international standards. MV Hyderabad had been engaged for lighterage and around 9,000 tonnes of wheat was unloaded before the Post Glory was allowed to berth at Gwadar Port.Thus, Gwadar Port finally made history by beginning its cargo handling from March 15, 2008. It was also an important event in the sense that it was the biggest... details >>
02.06.2008
11 polytechnic institutes to be set up in Balochistan
By Our Staff Correspondent
QUETTA, June 1: Provincial Minister for Education Shafiq Ahmed Khan has said that 11 polytechnic institutes would be set up in Balochistan.Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony of the hostel of the Al Hijrah Residential School in Ziarat on Sunday, he said that efforts were under way to provide quality education to students and the PPP-led government was taking revolutionary measures for the purpose.He admitted that the state of education in government-run educational institutions was miserable and no effective measures had been taken to ensure the presence of teachers and availability of facilities for students.He said the government paid rent to around 70 sc... details >>
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