QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan, has informed that the provincial government will build 16 new dams in different areas of southern Balochistan.
While presiding over a meeting of the Apex Committee to review the progress of the development program being executed in southern Balochistan, the chief minister said that investment in Balochistan would result in socio-economic growth.
Jam Kamal said it was for the first time that mega projects were being introduced in different areas of the province. Threadbare briefing with regard to development projects and financing plan under Southern Balochistan Development Package announced for southern Balochistan was given to the apex committee.
The meeting was informed that nine districts of the province would be provided with facilities of communication, public health infrastructure, electricity, pure drinking water, education and health facilities.
It was also informed that projects for linking up livestock markets of the province through E-Market with other big markets of the country and projects for the promotion of Agro markets were included in the developmental project.
Earlier, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar had announced a package for development projects in southern Balochistan.
Addressing a press conference, the federal minister said the government would spend Rs 600 billion in nine districts of southern Balochistan during the next three years to improve the living standard of local people.
The federal government would provide Rs 540 billion, while the rest would be spent by the Balochistan government and also engage the private sector. He said the package was prepared under the special direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan who had firm belief in the development of weak segments of the society.
“The historic package has been prepared with an integrated strategy to ensure that the people belonging to all segments of the society should be benefitted,” he added.
The minister hoped that after the completion of the projects, the most impoverished area of the country would see prosperity as envisioned by the prime minister.
Asad Umar said at present only 12 percent of people of South Balochistan were receiving electricity. Under this package, electricity will be provided to over 57 percent of the scattered population of the area. He said the government would build 16 new dams that would irrigate about 150,000 acres of land.
He said around 640,000 children would be given distance education and they would be connected to the teachers in big cities. Similarly, 35,000 youth of the area would be given the training to earn as freelancers.
