Ban on trading Iranian oil in Balochistan is economic murder of people, said National Party and All Parties Kech.
In a statement, the spokesperson for the National Party (NP) Kech zone termed the government decision of banning petrol and diesel business as “economic murder” of the people and said that such decisions would increase further deprivation and create social problems.
He said: On the one hand, the present elected government has completely failed to provide employment and on the other hand, it is bent on depriving the people of their livelihood. Governments all over the world make policies and decisions for the welfare of their people but the policies of our rulers are based on enmity, NP spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, All Parties Ketch (APK) in a statement issued yesterday reacted to the Chief Secretary Balochistan’s decision to give full authority to the Frontier Corps (FC) to take action against Iranian oil and diesel traders-saying that the majority of the population of Balochistan, including Makran, is economically dependent on Iranian oil and diesel. In this manner the government’s ban on it and the round-up of the vehicles of local owners is the economic murder of the people. ‘All Parties Kech will not play the role of silent spectator on the economic murder of its people,” statement read.
APK warned that if government does not withdraw the ban notice, it will join hands with all political parties in Makran to protest.
The reaction comes a day later when on Monday, Chief Secretary Balochistan issued a notice instructing Inspector General of paramilitary forces FC that: “Smuggling of Iranian petrol and diesel has been banned and the FC has been given full legal authority and notification to stop the smuggling.”
According to Balochistan Home Minister Zia Lango, the ban has been imposed by the orders of the Prime Minister Imran Khan.
On the other hand, there are concerns among thousands of people associated with this business. People associated with the petrol and diesel business say that thousands of homes in Balochistan will be deprived of food and shelter.
In a joint statement, drivers and people involved in the Iranian oil business in Turbat, Panjgur and other areas, rejected the notification saying, it is the economic murder of Baloch people.
They said that we should be provided employment otherwise the economic crisis in Balochistan would get worse.
“We are already fed up with this painful and dangerous business but due to the lack of employment, we have no other options left to feed our children except this.”
They further said “we cross dangerous routes from Iran to the border after three days and then after one day from there we endure cold, heat and thirst and at last reach Turbat or Panjgur, while we pay extortion at every check post and then what’s left, we barely feed our children with that.”
Naseem Ashraf, a resident of Buleda, says he has been in the business for seven years. He said that he wasted two years looking for a job after graduating from Balochistan University. According to him “thousands of educated youth in Balochistan like me earn their breads through this business.
He said that if this business was shut down, the economically troubled Balochistan would suffer further economic woes.