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Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has announced an additional fund of Rs three billion to accelerate development in Balochistan. Out of this, an amount of Rs one billion has been earmarked for the rehabilitation of drought-hit areas in the province. The province will also get 200 bulldozers for the development of its agriculture sector. Addressing the provincial cabinet, the prime minister pointed out that there was a lot of investment potential in the province and it only needed effective planning. He asked the province to give up ad-hocism and prepare a five-year development plan adding that the federal government would cooperate in funding and managing such a plan. He also referred to a number of development schemes which had already been undertaken in the province. The prime minister asked the provincial government to initiate housing schemes in big cities.
Balochistan is the largest province of the country in terms of area but population wise, it is the smallest one. It is regrettable that the past governments did not pay adequate attention to its geographical importance and did not make any effort to bring it out of the state of under-development. Development schemes were even at times opposed by some local influentials. This attitude proved a big hindrance to the progress of the province. However, the policy of the present government to end inequality and bring at par all the under-developed areas with the developed ones is the proof of its sincere efforts in this regard. It is particularly encouraging that Chairman of the Senate, after consultations with the Speaker of the National Assembly and the leaders of various political parties in both the houses of the parliament has set up a 29-member committee which is headed by the PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. It will review the situation in Balochistan and present its report within ninety days.
Earlier, during his various visits to Balochistan, President Pervez Musharraf had also expressed his willingness to talk to various groups and had declared that launching of development schemes to end the sense of deprivation of the people was inevitable. Therefore, it is for the first time that development funds for the province have been increased from three to seven percent. By initiating development projects like Gwadar port, Mirani dam, coastal highway, greater Quetta water scheme and Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan Road and many other development projects, the government has proved that it wants to make up for the past neglect and overcome the backwardness of the province. The development of agriculture sector will augment production in this sector and also create new job opportunities. Undoubtedly there is no lack of natural resources in the province but what is needed is the planning to benefit from them and implement measures in this regard effectively. Balochistan is rich in gas, silver, copper and fruit and their fullest exploitation can bring progress and prosperity to the people. The construction of Gwadar port is a project of immense importance. So is the plan to build cantonments from the defence point of view for the province and the whole country. Such projects will create jobs and the demand to absorb the locals against these jobs ought to be given due consideration. Any grievances in this respect must be redressed.
The Balochistan government should undertake long-term planning from the investment point of view, especially by the private sector which should be provided protection and security. The preparation of a five-year plan, as suggested by the prime minister, will ensure the continuity of projects and it will also encourage further investment. The government has already announced concrete measures to increase trade with the Central Asian states. The work on railway line from Chaman to Spin Boldak is already underway. This will facilitate industry, trade and the whole business community of Balochistan to expand their trade with Afghanistan and further on to Central Asia. Thus the prime ministerâ?Ts idea to build Quetta as an export centre is timely and significant. The decision to establish Gwadar export processing zone is also important as it will promote investment in the province and provide additional job opportunities. The government has also started a road network-building programme to expand communication facilities. Coastal highway is part of this programme. The interest shown by the prime minister in the development of Balochistan and the announcement of Rs three billion for this purpose clearly demonstrates that he is fully involved in implementing his priorities. |
