QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly adopted a resolution on Saturday, demanding extension of the under-construction Lahore-Multan motorway to Quetta via Dera Ghazi Khan to promote the province’s trade with Punjab.
The resolution, tabled by opposition’s Haji Gul Mohammad, said that Balochistan was linked to Punjab through the national highway via Bolan but travel on the road, particularly its Quetta-Sibi section, was not safe for security reasons.
He said there was another road connecting the province to Dera Ghazi Khan via Loralai but its condition had deteriorated, rendering it unusable by heavy trucks.
Sardar Abdur Rehman Khetran, Syed Liaquat Agha and Obaidullah Babat supported the resolution and expressed the hope that the federal government would act upon it and extend the motorway project to Quetta.
Two other resolutions were adopted during the session presided over by Deputy Speaker Mir Qaddus Bizenjo.
One of them, moved by Shahida Rauf and Husan Bano, called upon the provincial government to build small dams for floodwaters, in areas surrounding the provincial capital in order to counter water shortage in the city.
The MPAs said that meeting water demand of the city had become a serious problem that the Quetta Development Authority and Metropolitan Corporation had failed to solve.
They proposed Kuchlak, Buleli, Kan Metherzai, Karak and Yaru as possible sites for small dams.
Nasrullah Zeray presented the third resolution, asking the federal government to award scholarships to poor students from Balochistan studying in different schools in Punjab.
They said the students were unable to pay their fees and scholarships under the Prime Minister’s Students Scholarship Scheme would help them continue their studies.
The chair admitted an adjournment motion tabled by Liaquat Agha about kidnapping for ransom incidents in Quetta and Hub. A debate will be held on the motion on April 30.
The session was adjourned till Monday.