Editorial:
In a bid to pacify his former coalition partner, the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), the Prime Minister, Imran Khan has assured implementation of a 6 percent job quota of Balochistan in all federal departments. One of the six demands made by the BNP-M at that time was to increase the quota of government jobs for Balochistan to 6 percent. The job quota for Balochistan was earlier increased from 3.5 percent to 6 percent.
However, the job quota for the province lagging behind other provinces in terms of key social indicators is yet to be implemented in later and spirit. Political parties, intelligentsia, and civil society have been protesting against appointments of people from other provinces on fake domiciles of Balochistan in federal departments including obtaining seats in competitive examinations.
The Premier issued directives to all federal ministries to make sure implementation of a 6 percent job quota, a statement by prime minister’s office said. Indeed, this is a right step in the right direction.
The directives issued from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to all federal ministries and departments said that PM Imran has expressed serious concern over the non–implementation of the job quota. “It should be implemented strictly in all ministries and government departments,” it said. The PMO also summoned a record of all vacant posts on the reserved seats for Balochistan within 30 days.
BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal parted ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government after remaining part of the coalition for around 2 years on June 17, 2020.
Making the announcement in the National Assembly, Mengal said that his party had decided to leave the coalition due to the non-implementation of the two agreements made with his party.
The BNP-M is represented by the four parliamentarians in the NA including Akhtar Mengal himself, Muhammad Hashim Notezai, Agha Hassan Baloch, and Dr. Shahnaz Baloch.
Thousands of posts are lying vacant in various federal departments for years. If the promised quota is implemented in federal departments and ministries, the ratio of unemployment can be reduced to some extent in the province. Balochistan should also be given due representation in the federal bureaucracy to remove its sense of deprivation and encourage its officers to serve on federal level.
Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan-led government needs to immediately pursue the filling of most important posts in the federal government after the advice and directives of PM regarding the implementation of Balochistan’s quota. Balochistan’s representation in the Planning Commission is yet to be filled, where the potential candidates have already applied. The province’s representation in such crucial positions would enable it to get its due share in the federal development program and the national finance commission award.
In the Aghaz e Haqooq Balochistan package announced during the joint session of parliament on November 24, 2009, the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government had promised provision of jobs to the youth of the province in all federal ministries. However, the then federal government could not translate its words into action.
Prime Minister, Imran Khan’s directives for implementation of a 6 point job quota for Balochistan is a right step in the right direction to bring the province at par with other provinces of the country and encourage and support its youth to serve in federal ministries. This is a long-awaiting demand of people of Balochistan, which should be implemented urgently before it is too late.
