Energy Sector - 2

[Naresh]

<b>Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline: Balochistan opposition leader demands royalty</b>

<b>QUETTA: Kachkol Ali, parliamentary leader from the National Party and leader of the opposition in the Balochistan Assembly, demanded royalty for the province on the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project on Thursday.</b>

Addressing a press conference at his chamber, Kachkol said that the proposed gas pipeline would be laid in Balochistan and it was the Balochistan’s right to get royalty.

<b>When asked whether it was appropriate for a federating unit to interfere in an international project, the National Party leader said it was not mentioned in the concurrent list, but international laws allowed Balochistan to demand royalty on the project and the federal government was bound to pay the royalty according to provincial rights.

Replying to a question, Kachkol said that India supported Balochistan for its rights. He quoted former Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Senha as saying, “India must consider Balochistan’s rights in the gas pipeline project.”</b>

Federal and provincial governments have time and again accused Baloch nationalists of creating hurdles in the way of the Balochistan development, but Kachkol said it was only propaganda. He said the centre was least interested in developing Balochistan.

<b>“Our development demands were not met, but the development projects in the interest of the government were initiated immediately,” he said.</b>

Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->