Khan promises to give Balochistan its due share in CPEC

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that his government is focusing on abolishing Balochistan's apprehensions regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), promising to give the province its due share from the deal.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government is conducting the review of the muti-billion dollar deal to address Balochistan's doubts, Khan confirmed during a meeting with the province's cabinet members here.

"Centre will work with Balochistan as a partner. We will not make any such promise for which we may have to excuse later on," said the Prime Minister.

He further bemoaned the damage caused to Pakistan by previous governments through the over-burdening loans they took, saying, "We hope that we will soon get rid of this difficulty."

While stating that the country's progress was connected with the development of the south-western province, Khan said that an agricultural revolution will be witnessed in Balochistan following the completion of the Kachhi canal. 80 kilometres of the 363 kilometre-long canal lies in Balochistan, with the other 281 kilometres being in the Punjab province.

The PTI chief also called upon Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan to inculcate the newly instituted local bodies system, which also slated to be introduced in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Khan said that his party was able to garner two-thirds majority in the KP Assembly as resources were sanctioned for the lowest levels of the government.

"There have been massive developments in KP villages as the basic living standards of people improved," said the Prime Minister.