QUETTA: Balochistan Senior Minister for Local Government and Urban Development Sardar Mohammad Saleh Bhootani has supported the move to bifurcate Lasbela into two districts and said this decision will provide administrative facilities to the people.

Speaking at a large public meeting in Winder on Sunday, he said a notification about the establishment of the new district of Lasbela would be issued over the next few days as it was a long-standing demand of the people of the area.

He rejected a perception that turning Lasbela into two districts would divide its people and said the move would benefit the masses. He said the presence of a large number of people from different areas of Lasbela district had endorsed the decision of the government about the establishment of a new district.

Mr Bhootani, who was the first to resign from the Jam Kamal Khan-led coalition government on the issue of release of funds for his department, criticised the former chief minister and said the public meeting was a proof that the people of Hub were celebrating the decision to make Hub a district. He claimed that the former chief minister had gathered only 300 people at his public meeting.

Mr Bhootani thanked the people and leaders of other political parties for supporting Bhootanis on the issue of bifurcation of Lasbela. Leaders of the JUI-F, Pakistan Peoples Party, Balochistan National Party and other parties in their speeches said the establishment of a new district was a long-standing demand of the people of Lasbela.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2022