Bilour for repealing 17th amendment, 58-2 (B).

ISLAMABAD, June 19, 2009 (Balochistan Times) -- Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour Friday underlined the need to repeal the 17th amendment and abolish the 58-2 (B) to ensure the supremacy of the Parliament, rule of law and strengthening of the nascent democracy in the country.The government should announce the National Finance Commission (NFC) award as soon as possible in which provinces must be given more autonomy, the minister said in an exclusive interview with reporter here. Pakhtoons have been rendering sacrifices and playing important role for development and prosperity of the country, adding I want to see the name of Pakhtoonkhawa in the map of Pakistan along with Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. He said the Awami National Party (ANP) has always supported to repeal the 17th amendment and abolishing 58-2 (B) to maintain the balance of power between the President and Prime Minister Houses. Commenting on Balochistan, the minister said that the province will have no issue if their rights are protected and under the Constitution their grievances are removed. Bilour said the government should increase the Railways budget as the existing allocations are insufficient for this important mode of transportation. He said that in the budget 2009-10 Rs. 12 billion have been earmarked for the Ministry of Railways out of which Rs. five billion would go under the head of pension of its retired employees. He said the Railways direly need improvement in its infrastructure including reconstruction of old railway bridges and to ensure the gated and manned railway crossings to avoid accidents. The minister highlighted the importance of purchasing new locomotives for strengthening the fleet aimed at ensuring smooth and safe journey of the passengers besides uninterrupted transportation of goods. Upgradation of railways tracks and laying of double tracks in different sections would help improve the performance of Railways, he added. Commenting on the federal budget, Bilour congratulated Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar for announcing a balanced budget. The Minister appreciated the government for announcing Rs. 50 billion for internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Swat and Malakand Division and expressed the hope that the IDPs would be resettled in a respectable manner. He lauded the relief efforts being carried out by government, NGOs, the provincial government and international community to facilitate the displaced families in this hour of trial. He urged the government to increase the salaries of government employees upto 20 percent so that they could perform their duties in a more smooth manner. The minister thanked the Prime Minister for withdrawing tax on carbon surcharge. He also welcomed allocation of Rs. 60 billion for construction of dams and increase in health and education budget.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)