LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of life and property in Balochistan during torrential rains, flooding and snowfall.

He was speaking to a delegation led by Balochistan Minister for Science and Information Technology Sardar Abdur Rehman Khetran at chief minister’s secretariat on Sunday.

Mr Buzdar said the Punjab government’s sympathies were with the people of Balochistan and it would extend all possible support to them. “We share our joys and sorrows as we live in a united land of Pakistan,” he said.

Both chief minister and the Balochistan minister condemned Indian war hysteria and shelling along the Line of Control. The chief minister said Modi’s government had put peace of the region at stake for his elections. He said Pakistan’s policy of peace and restraint should not be considered its weakness.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had acted as a statesman in the current situation, he said and added that the timely and positive steps had raised the image of Pakistan. He stressed that India should shun war hysteria and hold dialogue because war would not bring any solution but destruction.

MEDIA: The chief minister also praised Pakistan media’s positive, constructive and responsible role for peace in the region. “Pakistani media’s responsible role is commendable and it has performed the national duty by promoting peace in contrast to Indian media’s warmongering,” he said.

Mr Buzdar said the Indian media was involved in warmongering while Pakistani media had always talked about peace. He said our media had played a positive role in diffusing tension at borders while Indian media’s negative role had escalated tension.