QUETTA: The Balochistan government decided to submit a petition for review at the International Center for Investment Dispute Settlement (ICSID) against its decision in the Reko Diq case.
ICSID had imposed a fine of about $ 6 billion on Balochistan in the case.
Balochistan Finance Minister Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi revealed this while answering a question posed by opposition member Sana Baloch on the first day of the autumn session of the Balochistan Assembly on Monday.
The session was chaired by speaker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo.
Sana Baloch and other members addressed the issue and said that the elected representatives had no information on what measures the government was taking in this regard.
Buledi said the house will soon be informed about the steps being taken regarding development and changes in the case of the Reko Dig copper and gold mine project.
He said that ICSID, one of the five organizations of the World Bank Group, had imposed a fine of $ 5.976 billion on Pakistan in the case.
"The process of introducing legislation for the protection of Baluchistan's natural resources is underway," he said, adding that the government would take all measures to use the resources of the province for the benefit of its people.
He said the government had already decided that no foreign company could buy a single inch of land in Balochistan. "Baluchistan's rights would be protected at all costs," he said.
The minister said that no recommendation was being considered regarding the establishment of a "National Coastal Development Authority".
He said the government was trying to ensure transparency, adding that funds for development projects were being released on time. He added that it is a government priority to complete all projects on time.
"The provincial government has released Rs15 billion for development projects in the current fiscal year," he said.
Members of opposition banks, including Malik Naseer Shahwani of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Sana Baloch of the Balochistan National Party and others raised questions about the performance of the special committee on the Reko Diq case and about transfers and publications of the government. officers.
In response to questions asked by members of the opposition, the provincial minister of Information Technology, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, said that provincial government officials were being transferred and sent only in accordance with the requirements for administrative matters Run smoothly.
For the first time in the history of Balochistan, comprehensive policies were being developed and implemented. These policies, he added, will soon give good results and pave the way to improve people's lives.
Pakistan's parliamentary leader, Tehreek-i-Insaf Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind, said: “We are taking all measures to achieve positive change in the province. We ask the provincial government to trust the members of the PTI in terms of policies ”.
Posted on Dawn, October 8, 2019
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1509620/balochistan-to-seek-review-of-icsid-decision-in-reko-diq-case