PC directs NHA to expedite work on Balochistan highways

Islamabad: Planning Commission directed Ministry of Communication and National Highway Authority to expedite the work on main highways of Balochistan for optimal utilisation of the Gwadar Deep Sea Port. Wapda was directed to provide electricity to the Gwadar Port in the shortest possible time to ensure power supply for the efficient functioning of the port.

It was also decided that import and export of goods from Gwadar Port would be encouraged in future. The development projects of Balochistan were reviewed in a high level meeting at the Planning Commission under the direction of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Aslam Raisani along with concerned members of the provincial Cabinet met with the Federal Ministers for Inter-provincial Co-ordination, Raza Rabbani, Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Babar Awan, and Secretary General to President, Salman Faruqui and discussed on-going development projects in the province. The representatives of the relevant Ministries/Divisions were also present in the meeting.

Mainly the progress of work on major highways that connect Balochistan to Sindh, Punjab and Iran along with inter-provincial roads was reviewed. Other areas that were discussed included agriculture, trade, gas exploration in Balochistan, construction of small dams, and Balochistan's representation in public sector and autonomous bodies.

To expedite work on dams, it was decided that Planning Commission would immediately write to Wapda to prepare and submit the PC-1s of dams in Balochistan. Regarding federal jobs quota for the province, the Chief Minister was informed that the Establishment Division had already advertised 1000 jobs for Balochistan and the process of recruitment would be completed within one month.

The interviews for the jobs would be conducted in Quetta being a convenient location for the candidates. Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Finance were directed to resolve the issue of import of bulldozers and prepare an update on the progress so far made on the projects.

Faruqui informed the meeting that it was directed by the President of Pakistan to expedite the work on Balochistan development projects and to sort out the issues pertaining to release of funds for these projects. For the current fiscal year the PSDP allocation for Balochistan stands at Rs 42.5 billion.

Raza Rabbani and Dr Babar Awan stated that development of Balochistan was one of the top priorities of the present government and they were attending the meeting to ensure that time lines for the completion of projects were met and release of funds was made in a timely manner. They advised the relevant ministries/divisions to monitor the progress on the projects and send them regular reports on the status of the ongoing projects.

The Chief Minister and his colleagues expressed their full confidence and satisfaction on the steps being taken by the Federal Government to complete the development projects in Balochistan. Secretaries/representatives of Planning & Development Division, Finance, Communication, Commerce, Industries and Production, Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Establishment Division, NHA, Chief Secretary Balochistan, and Members of the Planning Commission, attended the meeting.