Balochistan Assembly adopts resolution on Reko Diq project amid opposition’s boycott

Balochistan Assembly adopted a resolution about the Reko Diq project amid opposition parties’ protest on Saturday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Balochistan Assembly adopted a resolution entrusting excise and other taxation powers of the project to the federal government.

The resolution was tabled by the Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Rubaba Buledi.

Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Rubaba Bilidi, while presenting the constitutional resolution, said that this House authorizes the Majlis-e-Shura (Parliament) under Article 144 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to organize the promotion and encouragement of investment in Balochistan province. Thus the Federation of Pakistan, specifically the Balochistan Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Act 2021, the Balochistan Workers Welfare Fund Act 2022, and the Balochistan Excise Duty on Minerals (Labor Welfare Act 1967) can be amended and foreign investment ( (Promotion and Protection) Act 2022 may declare any exemptions or concessions granted under legislation of this Assembly to be protected.

Component parties of the joint opposition including the Jamiat ul Ulema e Islam (JUI) and Balochistan National Party (Mengal) staged a walkout from the house.

“This is an attempt to usurp the resources of Balochistan”, Akhtar Hussain Langove, the opposition member from the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) said.

Amid uproar in the house, the deputy speaker Balochistan Assembly, Sardar Babar Musakhail put the resolution for voting before the lawmakers.

Since there were only three or four opposition members, consequently, the house adopted the resolution and delegated the taxation powers to the federal government.

The passage of this resolution has come two days after the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared the Reko Diq agreement legal.

“SC judgment proved our principled stance about the Reko Diq project”, Mir Quddus Bizenjo, Chief Minister Balochistan said.

Bizenjo said all political parties including the coalition partners and the opposition parties had supported the agreement with Barrick Gold Corporation (BGC).

“We oppose the passage of this resolution and it is an injustice to the people of Balochistan,” Malik Naseer Shahwani, the parliamentary leader of the BNP Mengal in the Balochistan Assembly told reporters after the session.

He said the lawmakers were not informed about the tabling of the resolution in the Balochistan Assembly session.