Balochistan getting attention by any govt for first time in history: PM

Gwadar: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said as the development of Balochistan was one of the government’s foremost priorities it was for the first time that attention was being given to Baluchistan province which was full of natural resources and manpower.

The provision of basic facilities including network of roads, employment generation through industrial development and agricultural development was being ensured, he added.

The Prime Minister expressed these views while presiding over a briefing / meeting here about the progress of South Balochistan development package.

Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, Federal Ministers Asad Umar, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Zubaida Jalal, Special Assistant to PM Dr. Shehbaz Gill, National Security Advisor Dr. Moeed Yusuf, Chief Minister Baluchistan, Jam Kamal, Chairman China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Lt. Gen. ® Asim Saleem Bajwa, Provincial Ministers and senior officers concerned were in attendance.

The meeting was briefed in detail about the progress of historic Balochistan Package under the government’s vision of special attention on the province.

It was told that federal and provincial institutions were jointly monitoring the ongoing work on the development package and were ensuring the completion of projects on priority basis.

The meeting was further told that out of a total of Rs. 654 billion package, an amount of Rs. 99.38 billion would be spent during the current fiscal year including on transport and the construction of basic infrastructure, provision and better utilization of clean water, agriculture and livestock, information technology, energy, trade and industry, manpower and education and other development projects.

Under the package a network 1100 kilometers of roads was being constricted which besides facilitating the people in mobility will also play an important role in transporting the agricultural commodities to markets, it was told.

The meeting was further told that the construction of seven big dams as well as 100 small dams was also included in the package. Akra Kaur, Sawad and Shadi Kaur dams will help ensure the supply of clean water to Gwadar.

Besides, these dams will also help improve irrigation system, provision of water for agriculture, implementation of agricultural transformation plan and enhance agricultural production.

The meeting was further told that under the package the supply of electricity would be increased from the current 12% to 57%. The supply of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) would also be ensured.

The meeting was told that a comprehensive project namely ASPIRE had been initiated under which students from far flung areas were being provided with tele-education through tele-schooling.

With 25,000 children being educated under the Waseela-e-Taleem program, the establishment of cadet colleges in Gwadar and Kharan and Women Universities in Turbat, Pasheen and Khuzdar were also included in the project.

The meeting was told that 640,000 children would benefit from the tele education system. The project included financial assistance of 5000 families under Ehsaas Program, whereas survey was being conducted to include another 20,000 families in the financial assistance scheme.

The meeting was further told that the Digital Baluchistan project included ensuring improvement in digital connectivity in Kech, Gwadar, Chagai and Naushki, provision of high speed internet alongside the major highways and the provision of digital skills to 35,000 youth under the Ignite Program.

The meeting was also briefed about the projects of the establishment of joint border markets at Gabad, Mand and Chegdi (Baluchistan) for the promotion of trade and industry, dates processing plants at Washuk, Mashkel and Turbat, world class marble industries, olive oil plants in Khuzdar, strengthening and modernization of boat manufacturing industry in Gwadar and the provision of modern mining machinery.