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BNP urges govt to make

Saindak project operational

KARACHI: Balochistan National Party (BNP) has demanded that the Saindak Gold and Copper Project in Chagai, Balochistan, should be made "operational at the earliest" by providing Rs 1.5 billion running capital from the federal government in the larger national interest.

Saindak project, in which Pakistan's close and trusted friend China has also made investment, is "extremely important, as it would lead to production of gold and copper, besides other metals, which in turn will give boost to the national economy and earn foreign exchange," said the BNP secretary general and member of the suspended National Assembly, Shakeel Baloch.

Talking to newsmen in Karachi on Tuesday, he referred to the assurances given by Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf that discrimination done to the smaller provinces in the past would now be rectified, by giving special attention towards completion of on-going important projects.

"However, recent indications show there has been no headway towards removing sense of discrimination among the smaller provinces, particularly Balochistan. Hundreds of employees working at Saindak project will become jobless if the project is abandoned for want of funds from the federal government, which in turn will create sense of deprivation among the people of Balochistan," he contended.

Shakeel Baloch said Rs 17 billion have been spent on the project since last 15 years. After completion in 1995, experimental production of gold and copper three years back, "proved economic viability of the project. But it could not be commissioned due to non-availability of funds from the Federal Government," he asserted.

Answering a question the BNP leader said the delay in making the project operational was due to "red tapism and corruption of the previous government and management, which escalated its construction cost manifold."ÑPPI