Reko Diq deal’s 50pc profit must come to Balochistan govt: Akhtar Mengal

[hydrabadi_arab]

QUETTA: Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) president Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal has said that his party will not accept any agreement on the Reko Diq gold project which does not ensure 50 per cent profit for the government of Balochistan in.

“We want 50 per cent share in the profit for the government of Balochistan in the project and establishment of a mineral refinery at the site to know how much gold and other minerals have been recovered,” Mr Mengal said while speaking at a press conference on Sunday evening after presiding over the central committee meeting of the BNP.

The BNP leader said his party would protest along with other parties in the provincial assembly and other forums if the agreement on Reko Diq project was found against the interests of the people of Balochistan.

Warns of protest if agreement proves to be against public interest

“Opponents accuse the BNP-M of being an anti-development party, but we are not anti-development. We oppose exploitation of the people of Balochistan in the name of development of the province.”

He said gas had been found in Sui in 1952 and the province continued to provide 46 per cent gas to the entire country which now remained just 15 per cent, but the people of Balochistan were still deprived of gas — a violation of article 52 of the Constitution.

He said the people of Dera Bugti had no other option but to burn firewood. Referring to the Saindak copper project, the BNP-M president said that work on it had been started just to loot natural resources of the province instead of providing jobs.

He said his party had opposed the Rato-Dero-Gwadar highway project in 1999, terming it an exploitation of the province.

He said after launching of CPEC-related projects in the province, a lot of hype and propaganda had been launched that the project would change the destiny of Balochistan, but the ground reality was that the people of Gwadar were still without drinking water, electricity, jobs and foreign vessels were exploiting resources of Balochistan.

“Injustices of rulers are behind five or six emergencies and military operations which the province had to face,” Mr Mengal said.

He said the BNP-M had signed a six-point agreement with the federal government which included recovery of the missing persons, implementation on Balochistan’s job quota in federal government jobs, legislation for stopping a change in the demography of Gwadar and establishment of a mineral refinery in Balochistan to stop loot and plunder of natural resources of the province.

He said that due to non-presence of the refinery in Balochistan it was not known how much gold, copper and other minerals had been recovered and sent to other countries.

“A new agreement on Saindak should be signed removing past reservations of the province,” he said, adding that the people of Balochistan should be given 50 per cent profit if the agreement on Reko Diq was inked.

He said that there were reports that a 100-km area was being allotted to the Barack-gold company in Reko Diq.

“If the proposed company has no ability to set up a mineral refinery then the agreement should be signed with another company which established a refinery

in Balochistan,” Mr Mengal said, adding that it would resolve the issue of unemployment to some extent in the province.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2022

Reko Diq deal’s 50pc profit must come to Balochistan govt: Akhtar Mengal

Warns of protest if agreement proves to be against public interest.

www.dawn.com

 

[N.Siddiqui]

He didn't elaborated the 50% of profit must come to the Sardars of Balochistan, inlcuding the lions share to Mengals, and rest to Bugtis, Magsis, Marris and all the feudal Sardars who were responsible for the backwardness of balochistan.

He said gas had been found in Sui in 1952 and the province continued to provide 46 per cent gas to the entire country which now remained just 15 per cent, but the people of Balochistan were still deprived of gas — a violation of article 52 of the Constitution.

Any sane mind will understand that it is not economically possible to supply sui gas to sparsely populated areas of Balochistan, like smaller towns with a population of few thousands, a village with 200 Katcha homes and other areas hundreds of kms apart...talking about economy of scales, earning and sustainability.

The reason Karachi, and Lahore and big urban areas with industry and jobs was supplied natural gas first.

No denying the fact that injustices to province occurred and the main reason was these sardars and the subservient people. Now changing it seems.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

There is 50 Billion Debt , should be divided evenly with Sardar of Balochistan

 

[SD 10]

Pehlay profit to a lainay do..... profit kahan ana hai yeh sab baten hain!!!!

 

[Jazzbot]

Although 50% is bit too much but as long as Federal Govt directly invests it in Baluchistan and it goes directly to the welfare of common Baloch, I'm all in for it.

Nothing should end up in the hands of these waderas, not even a penny.

 

[Vapnope]

It is a fair demand to be honest. Pakistan should invest in Baluchistan (Which btw is happening as we discuss) and bring the middle class youth to mainstream. They need better health infra, more jobs, access to clean drinking water and basic necessaties of life. The best way to move forward is not to make any sardar visible, instead federal govern should govern the projects with contractors.

 

[313ghazi]

It is a fair demand to be honest. Pakistan should invest in Baluchistan (Which btw is happening as we discuss) and bring the middle class youth to mainstream. They need better health infra, more jobs, access to clean drinking water and basic necessaties of life. The best way to move forward is not to make any sardar visible, instead federal govern should govern the projects with contractors.

Already an agreement has been signed where 25% goes to federal, 25% to provincial and I think the private company takes the rest.

I would prefer a state owned company, run by a private company be setup and the profit split 45:45:10 but we are a nation who don't have the capability to mine gold. If all you can do is donkey work and all you can pay are pennies then everyone else is going to benefit.

 

[_NOBODY_]

Already an agreement has been signed where 25% goes to federal, 25% to provincial and I think the private company takes the rest.

I would prefer a state owned company, run by a private company be setup and the profit split 45:45:10 but we are a nation who don't have the capability to mine gold. If all you can do is donkey work and all you can pay are pennies then everyone else is going to benefit.

State-owned companies will always be incompetent, unlike private companies as private companies are motivated by profit. This is Pakistan not China, here state-owned companies suck.

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

He didn't elaborated the 50% of profit must come to the Sardars of Balochistan, inlcuding the lions share to Mengals, and rest to Bugtis, Magsis, Marris and all the feudal Sardars who were responsible for the backwardness of balochistan.






Any sane mind will understand that it is not economically possible to supply sui gas to sparsely populated areas of Balochistan, like smaller towns with a population of few thousands, a village with 200 Katcha homes and other areas hundreds of kms apart...talking about economy of scales, earning and sustainability.

The reason Karachi, and Lahore and big urban areas with industry and jobs was supplied natural gas first.

No denying the fact that injustices to province occurred and the main reason was these sardars and the subservient people. Now changing it seems.

Balochistan share was 25% and federal 25%. Then I think balochistan share increased to 35%. But looks like Mengal saab isnt happy with that either.

There is no country on earth where federal doesnt have share in resources. How about giving all the share to district from where gold will be extracted. How will balochistan govt react then.

 

[waz]

The common people of the Baluchistan will see nothing of it. There needs to be a fund set aside is which overseen by trusted people, where the revenue goes straight into services for the people.
But knowing the double game people in this region play they would pay the BLA, BLF etc to attack the development if it doesn't end up in their pockets.

 

[khail007]

Nothing should end up in the hands of these waderas, not even a penny.

Who will give assurance of such an optimistic arrangement?
If the government does it, these 'Waderas/Sardars' with their faithfulls will climb to the mountains with the slogan of 'Azad Balochistan'; where they could continue the same 'musical chairs' game, but to their advantage as all, 'Waderas/Sardars' will be the participants.
The same was the issue of 'Bagti'; upon noticing the flow of money to him by previous governments, Musharaf objected to it and stopped the flow of money, resulting 'Bagti' was on hilltops but with substituted 'media assisted' excuse; rest everyone knows the story.
Once a person departs on the path of corruption/theft/greed; none could advise or prevent his way but ALLAH SWT.

 

[FuturePAF]

The common people of the Baluchistan will see nothing of it. There needs to be a fund set aside which is overseen by trusted people, where the revenue goes straight into services for the people.
But knowing the double game people in this region play they would pay the BLA, BLF etc to attack the development if it doesn't end up in their pockets.

I would hope the federal government outlines the services and facilities it build up in Baluchistan so the people know where the money is to go, and to get ahead of the demands of the powerful local figures.

Basically how the government will allocate the funds to help the province catch up with the rest of the country and enable the local population to get more work (like a massive sea food industry in the coastal cities)

 

[Imran Khan]

i think 50% is less he is being so nice . it must be 70% . stop this sardar sardar BS federal gov and NAB are respomsible for anti corruption . this money must be spent on local people .

It is a fair demand to be honest. Pakistan should invest in Baluchistan (Which btw is happening as we discuss) and bring the middle class youth to mainstream. They need better health infra, more jobs, access to clean drinking water and basic necessaties of life. The best way to move forward is not to make any sardar visible, instead federal govern should govern the projects with contractors.

read the comments in this thread . for them money go to sardars . then its gov job to stop money to be looted rather then keep people of balochistan in stone ages . make a indipendent balochistan development commission a free gov institution and spend money on people rather then just keep them on marcy of sardars . gov should educate people so they get rid of sardars . where there is no education there is feudalism . but comments in this thread say dont give them money otherwise sardars will take it . then what is the solution ? no one talk about it.

 

[Mohsin A]

I thought Mr 10% Zardari was bad, but this guy is taking the piss! Balochistan is an integral part of Pakistan and all funds will go to the Federal Government who will distribute a large chunk to the people of Balochistan directly and accordingly. We don't need a third party to interfere thank you very much!

 

[TNT]

Baloch sardars own royls royce phantoms and claim they dont get their share. These sardars have kept ppl as slaves and only want money and power for themselves. These feudals wont even let schools being built in their area because education would free the ppl.