The Londoner

Building an international airport in Multan is the need of this hour and must be done as soon as possible. Multan is the Capital of South Punjab and must be treated as such. There are about 30 to 40 million people living in the region but it does not have an international airport is a travesty of the highest order. The present airport does not even deserve the status of a bus station, let alone an airport. With Yousaf Raza Gilanai hailing from the city of Multan, people of the city and the surrounding region have a lot of expectations and these expectations will not be satisfied by just announcing some plans as people want action and that action is needed soon.

By Jamil Khan KARACHI: The Transport and Communication Department (TCD) of the city district government of Karachi has planned to expand the existing terminal for Balochistan-bound buses to avoid clogging up the inner city. The current terminal is located at Yousuf Goth on Hub River Road in Baldia Town. But the city government needs to acquire another five acres adjacent to the existing Yousuf Goth terminal, where there will be more capacity for buses and other facilities. As the land is under the control of the Katachi Abadis (slums) Department of the city government, permission has to be sought for the transfer. The kaatchi abadies department had to construct a boundary wall around the area to thwart encroachers. Katchi Abadis DO Muhammad Rehan Khan said that they had sent this matter as a resolution to the City Council and it would be finalized in the upcoming session. After the City Council approves the transfer of the five acres, construction tenders will be invited. The inter-cit

(Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- After a successful experiment in the NWFP, the stage is set to stabilise Balochistan through political means. Official sources told TheNation on Friday that the coalition government had launched efforts to bring the political forces in Balochistan on board to stabilise the troubled province. Apart from releasing political prisoners and tracing missing persons, the federal government has decided to do its utmost, including payment of compensation to the affected families as part of a well-planned strategy to bring the province back on path of progress and prosperity. The Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani gave a detailed briefing to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on security situation in Balochistan. The briefing was a sequel to an earlier briefing given on FATAs security situation last month. General Kayani underlined the significance of development works initiated by the government with the assistance of the Army and Frontie

By Saleem Shahid QUETTA: The Balochistan cabinet was informed on Monday that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had assured the province that it would be represented in every meeting of the IPI gas project as one of the stakeholders.

By M Ilyas Khan BBC News, Karachi Tribesman say they are fighting for greater economic rights Pakistan's new government says it has pulled thousands of security personnel out of troubled Balochistan province as part of efforts to bring peace there. About 7,000 troops have left the cities of Quetta and Gwadar, a senator from the governing Pakistan People's Party said. The thinly-populated but resource-rich province has been the scene of a revolt by nationalist rebels since 2001. The rebels want autonomy and greater control over Balochistan's resources. Dialogue Military operations against the rebels led to considerable population displacement in 2006. In his inaugural speech to the newly-elected parliament last month, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said his government would talk to all segments of the Baloch population, including the rebels, to find a peaceful solution to the problems of the province. Later a committee was formed to clear the ground for an all-parties c

ISLAMABAD: A roadmap to ensure an end to the grievances of the people of Balochistan is being finalised, Senator Dr Baber Awan said on Wednesday. Talking to Geo News, Awan, who is also the secretary of the National Reconciliation Committee for Balochistan, said most of the grievances of Baloch people were right and recommendations would be finalised within a few days to resolve their issues. Awan said several confidence-building measures had already been taken to enhance the trust of the Baloch people towards the government. As many as 7,000 troops have been withdrawn from various cities and villages of the province. Many checkposts have also been abolished, despite reports of worsening law and order in the province. He said people would be ‘assured this is their country’ and they are not ‘living under siege’. They should be granted ownership rights of natural resources within their respective areas and a due share of royalty aiming to remove their misunderstandings, Awan added.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Population Welfare, Mir Hamayun Aziz Kurd here on Saturday hosted a reception in the honour of Privatization and Finance Minister Naveed Qamar and Chief Minister of Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raesani here at a local hotel. During the reception, they discussed matters of mutual interest with special reference to enhance allocations for the province in the forthcoming budget 2008-09, says a statement issued here today. The representatives of Balochistan were assured that in the National Budget 2008-09 more allocations be made to the province budget with special focus on its development for the welfare of the people. The Provincial Finance Minister Asim Kurd and Secretary Finance of the Province Mehfooz Ali Khan were also present on the occasion who appraised the Federal Finance Minister of their proposal and suggestions with regard to the budget.