TURBAT: Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced a mega development project for South Balochistan areas featuring the construction of 1,100 kilometres roads, skill training to 3,5000 youth and expansion of power and gas supply networks.
During his day-long visit to Turbat, the prime minister maintained that the PTI-led federal government was determined to ensure the uplift of Balochistan people and provide them facilities in all areas particularly education and health.
“We want an intellectual base be prepared in Balochistan, ready to meet the challenges of today’s world,” he said in his address to students of the University of Turbat.
While terming the youth of Balochistan as the country’s ‘asset and future’, PM Imran said that the federal government would provide maximum funds for their progress in education sector.
“You are the future leaders of Pakistan and the intellect which will lead the country’s journey towards prosperity,” he added. The premier also mentioned that Punjab had increased the number of scholarships for the Balochistan students from 135 to 360 in higher education.
The prime minister further said that the uniform development of all units of the federation was important for the overall progress of the country. “The prosperity of Balochistan is linked with the prosperity of Pakistan,” he remarked.
PM Imran also advised the youth in Balochistan’s far-flung areas to tap the opportunities by gaining knowledge through distant learning modes. “With dedication and persistent struggle, any challenge could be overcome in way to success,” he asserted.
“A dream comes to realisation when a person refuses to give up and continues to achieve his goals,” he told, urging the students to never quit in difficult situations and always rise from the ashes.
Commenting on the State of Medina, PM Imran said that quest for knowledge was an important feature of the world’s first socio-economic state. He mentioned a saying of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W) who told people ‘to seek knowledge from the cradle to grave’.
The prime minister also inaugurated Daar-ul-Ehsaas facility for the orphan and other poor children to provide them free shelter, food and education. He also launched Waseela-e-Taleem program, to help enrol additional 83,000 children in the schools and facilitate over 640,000 children through accelerated and distance learning programs.
The prime minister performed the ground-breaking of various development projects including extension of Turbat airport, 200- bed Makran Medical Teaching Hospital, University of Turbat and 146 kilometres Hoshab-Awaran section of M-8 motorway.
The package comprises of construction of 210 basic health units and improved nutrition for 7000 households under Ehsaas Nashunama program The establishment of six border markets, three dates processing units and an olive extraction unit are also part of the development package.
Under the plan, 35,000 youth will be imparted skill training to enable them earn as freelancer besides extending internet facility to another 0.5 million people. Moreover, 16 dam will be constructed and 0.15 million acres land will be cultivated. The development plan is expected to create more than 120,000 jobs for the area where 0.7 million people of up to 35 years are unemployed.
