Installation of desalination plants in Balochistan

Karachi: A high level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, KB Rindh reviewed the development projects of Balochistan in Karachi on Thursday.

The meeting carefully reviewed the shifting of machinery from Karachi port for the installation of four desalination plants at Pasni, Gwadar, Jiwani and Ormara, the progress of installation of desalination plant in Gwadar Industrial Estate and development projects of Lasbele Industrial Authority and Balochistan Development Authority.

Rind, after the meeting informed the newsmen that a road is being constructed from Khuzdar to Shahdadkot, which will reduce the travel time from Balochistan to Sindh to only one hour. He said work is also under progress on another road up to DI Khan via Moosa Khail while Kachhi Canal is being developed for agriculture purpose.

The chief secretary also informed that 2100 plots, in the Industrial Estate under Gwadar Development Authority have been allotted and further allotment of 1000 plots is under consideration.

He said that Gadani Ship Breaking Industry is being promoted for which, tariff and revenue rationalisation incentives have been offered to investors through CBR. According to him, the investors have assured to start work on revival of the industry by 2008. Rind told the journalists that some 75 units in Marble City, Hub, for production of marble products are under implementation process while 18 units are about to be functional.

Further, he said a 15-bed modern hospital is being set up in Gwadar under public-private partnership. Also steps are underway to network gas supply from Hub to Vinder and score of projects were under execution in Hub, Gwadar, Lasbela, Vinder and other cities for the development of agriculture, industry and trade, he said adding that a cement city is also in the list of new projects.