QUETTA, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday presided over a meeting in Quetta in which he was told that the security of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Gawadar and implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) are amongst multiple challenges, Balochistan is facing.
In the meeting held at the Governor House in Quetta to discuss law & order and various development projects, the Chief Secretary Balochistan Mr Saifullah Chattah gave a detailed briefing to the participants of the meeting, saying that Balochistan was confronted with several challenges including terrorism, sectarian and target killing and kidnapping for ransom.
However, the Chief Secretary Balochistan added that the unwavering political will and effective coordination between Intelligence and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have resulted into elimination of high profile terrorists.
The meeting was informed that bomb blast incidents dropped from 483 in 2013 to 27 in 2016 while incidents of rocket firing dropped from 372 to mere 5 for the same period.
Likewise, incidents of 90 highway robberies occurred in Balochistan in 2013 which fell to 9 in the year 2016 while incidents of kidnapping for ransom dropped from 49 to 8 for the same period.
The prime minister was also briefed that three new medical colleges commenced in the province while Bolan Medical College upgraded into Medical University and Agriculture College Quetta into Agriculture University. He was told that creation of two sub campuses of University of Balochistan, two new residential colleges at Kharan and Sibi and creation of 141 new primary schools were possible during the present government.
Sharif was further informed that 105 small dams, 659 water supply schemes, 3451 kilometers roads, two new 50 bed hospitals at Gawadar and Sui were built along with creation of 21,000 jobs.
In his remarks on the occasion, the prime minister said that Balochistan was long neglected by the centre and even the provincial governments of the province.
The prime minister said that the solution of Balochistan’s problems lies in quick execution of development projects.
“It is time to do what could not be done in the past,” he said.
Sharif said that the federal government will ensure provision of the required assistance and help so that issues of Balochistan are adequately resolved.
“We are further increasing the allocation of funds to the province for the Fiscal Year 2016-2017,” the prime minister said..
The premier said that Balochistan and its people will be the biggest beneficiary from projects like Gawadar and CPEC. He said that these two projects alone have the future potential to change the destinies of millions of people in the country and region, emphasised the Prime Minister.
The meeting was attended by Governor Balochistan Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Balochistan Sardar Sanaullah Khan Zehri, Minister for SAFRON Lt General (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, State Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, National Security Lt General (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua and members of the provincial cabinet.
