Pakistan's Balochistan facing severe financial crisis: Reports
By India Blooms News Service Feb 03, 2023
Quetta: Balochistan is facing a financial crisis for the last three months as it has not received its share of Rs11 billion under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, a key official of the province has said.
Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo and Finance Minister Zamrak Khan Piralizai have repeatedly drawn the attention of the federal government to the provinces predicament, but the centre has made no response so far, reports Dawn News.
The province reportedly did not receive any money from Islamabad for flood relief as well.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced a grant of Rs10 billion for rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure in flood-ravaged regions, but Balochistans finance department laments it hasnt received anything under the head so far, reports the Pakistani newspaper.
The provincial government had to spend huge amounts on relief and rehabilitation from its own resources, an official told Dawn.
Farah Azeem Shah, a spokesperson for the provincial government, said at a press conference the province was woefully short of funds and unless the federal government released its dues worth Rs75 billion, it wont be able to pay salaries to its employees.
She accused Islamabad of holding back the money on purpose, calling for the release of funds as soon as possible. Otherwise, the province will meet with disaster.
The spokesperson said a major chunk of the provincial governments funds were spent on law and order.