IT is encouraging that despite his rigorous responsibilities as the Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar is sparing no opportunity to help promote national unity and solidarity in his capacity as the Deputy Prime Minister of the country. His gesture to attend the flag hoisting ceremony in Quetta on the occasion of the Independence Day where he also delivered a thought provoking address have gone well with people of Balochistan. It has also been confirmed by feedback from the provincial capital that his participation in the ceremony and dissemination of a message of hope has infused new spirit among people of the province.
There can be no two opinions that the people of Balochistan are as patriotic as people of other provinces but conspiracies are being hatched by some foreign powers, which have made some local elements as their tools for venomous propaganda aimed at creating a wedge between Islamabad and the province. The manner with which all segments of the population in Balochistan took part in one way or the other in the Independence Day celebrations is a befitting response to the mischief mongers. The government and private organizations held national flag hoisting ceremonies in Quetta and other cities and towns across the province, including the Quaid-i-Azam Residency in Ziarat, which drew large crowds of people from all walks of life. There is greater realization among Baloch people that those targeting innocent people or attacking economic interests and distribution networks of the utility services are not sympathizers of the people or the province. It was in this backdrop that Mr. Ishaq Dar declared that there is no room for violence in the country, and the notion of disgruntled individuals holds no significance. Acknowledging that Balochistan was left behind in development, he made an impassioned appeal to work together to take the province forward. In fact, a number of projects being implemented in the length and breadth of the province including those under the banner of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have the potential to bring about a revolution there. It is the imminent prospects of a transformation that makes enemies of the province restless but people in Balochistan are now alive to their machinations and the need to foil them through unity as emphasized by the Deputy Prime Minister.
