ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Monday the future of Pakistan laid in the development of Balochistan and the federal government accorded top priority to it.

He was talking to Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik, who met him here to discuss financial issues relating to the province.

The finance minister, in this regard, referred to a flyover project on Saryab Road, Quetta, which had been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) recently.

Appreciating the financial discipline being maintained by the Balochistan government, the minister said as announced in the federal budget, a reward of Rs.175.4 million had been paid to the provincial government for showing surplus budget in its first quarter.

The finance minister and the chief minister on the occasion agreed to convene a meeting of federal ministers and provincial officials to resolve financial, administrative and procedural issues, including development projects in Balochistan.

The chief minister assured the minister that the Balochistan government would utilize the funds for the development of province and the welfare of its people.

The meeting was also attended by provincial ministers, besides senior officials of federal and Balochistan governments.

(APP)