In order to introduce a constitutional amendment for the creation of a separate province for the people of south Punjab, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government has sought the support of both Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.
In this connection, Foreign Minister and PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has written letters to Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in which he has told them that he is writing to them for the creation of a separate province in the south of Punjab, which will be comprised of Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions.
He says that the creation of a new province is an important part of PTI’s manifesto. “However, in order to meet the demand of 35 million people of south Punjab, a constitutional amendment is required for the passage of which two-third majority is required. That is the only impediment, which we need to overcome,” reads the letter.
And for that, the FM adds, the government needs your support so that the future of these people could be made secure. “In this regard, your role will be the key,” he says, adding, “Play your ‘historic’ role by supporting our legislation.”
Qureshi further writes that even without that amendment, the PTI government has done all it could to provide facilities to the people of south Punjab by launching development projects there since the party had promised this to them at the time of general elections in 2018. “We built two secretariats in Multan and Bahawalpur; we constituted a steering committee, which approved the allocation of 32 percent job quota for the people of the area; our government also earmarked 35 percent development budget for the three divisions, which will together form South Punjab.
“Therefore, I request to forward us the names of people of your choice who will be the members of a special parliamentary committee, which will be formed for the purpose,” the foreign minister writes.
Reporter Awais Kiani