Pak PM pledges support for development of Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said today that his government has prioritised development in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan.

Sharif met Baloch nationalist leader Akhtar Mengal, the former chief minister of Balochistan, who called on him here.

The premier said the government will take all decisions through consultation and cooperation of all parties of the province.

Sharif's office said in a statement that the government wants to provide equal opportunities to the people living in all parts of the country through infrastructure development especially by constructing better roads and highways.

He said that Pakistan needs all political forces to cooperate with each other to find solutions to the problems.

The prime minister said Balochistan is an important part of Pakistan's federal democratic system and asked Mengal to play his role in parliament so that pace of development in the province is increased.

The meeting took place in the backdrop of efforts by the government to improve law and order in the province which has faced low-intensity conflict for more than a decade by Baloch nationalists who want greater control over the resources of the province, Pakistan's largest but also the poorest.