President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday announced additional funds for development of Balochistan and vowed to do away with past neglect by developing the province to bring it at par with the developed areas.
"Pakistan because of Balochistan and the development here is the progress of the entire country," he told a large gathering here. He urged the Baloch youth to part ways with those who were against development and progress.
"There is no other 'Lashkar', but only one and that is Pakistan Army, to defend the motherland," the President said, alluding to those made by a few local Sardars. Musharraf asked the people to be the judge and see for themselves the large scale unprecedented development initiated in the province by the government in all sectors.
"My heart beats with my Baloch brethren and you are source of my strength", he said amidst loud applause. Despite the bitter cold, thousands attended the meeting and enthusiastically responded to the announcements made by the President for the people of the province.
Musharraf announced Rs 1 billion for development of Quetta, Rs 100 million each for 28 districts besides Rs 2.5 billion to the parliamentarians for development schemes in their respective constituencies. He announced seven new cadet colleges, two more campuses for Balochistan University at Gwadar and Turbat, 1,000 scholarships for Baloch students enabling them to study in the best schools and professional colleges of the country with free boarding and lodging.
"However, I will urge my young students from Balochistan to focus on their studies, seek higher education and work for their country and the betterment of their families", said the President.
He also announced six new buses for Balochistan University, saying all students who had completed 16 years of education will get a stipend of Rs 10,000 for a year at a government job.
He also announced quota for Baloch students in vocational training institutions besides special training courses for the Baloch youth at Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Aeronautical Complex Kamra, Heavy Industries Taxila, which will later absorb them on regular positions. Musharraf said 1,400 villages will be electrified this year, to be followed by another 2,000 next year and to reach the farthest areas by 2009.
He said electricity from Iran was being supplied to Panjgur, Pasni, Turbat, and Gwadar, while the natural gas supply will also be extended to other areas. He announced gas supply for Urak and Hanna in Quetta and Zhob.
"It is unfortunate that the areas that are a source of natural gas remained bereft in the past. Do not blame me for the past neglects ... I am here to provide you all facilities," the President said. He regretted 50 years of neglect that left country's largest province underdeveloped and vowed to make up for past negligence.
The President, who addressed the gathering after inaugurating a modern Kidney Center and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Girls College nearby, said many development projects were in the pipeline.
He said the Subakzai dam will be complete in three months time, whereas he had already inaugurated the Mirani Dam that can meet irrigation needs for 33,000 acres. The work on Rs 40 billion Kachi canal bringing water from Punjab for Balochistan has started on both ends to be completed in 2008.
The President also greeted the people of Balochistan for the re-opening of the Chamalang coal-mines, closed 30 years back after a dispute over ownership between the Luni and the Murri tribes.
These 60-km-long coal mines in Chamalang are considered the world's largest, which produces Rs 300 billion coal. The President said the government was working on providing a comprehensive road network to ensure that development benefits reach every corner of the country.
He said new roads linking Loralai with DG Khan and Zhob with DI Khan were being built, besides progress on the RCD Highway, Indus Highway and Motorway to improve trade links with Iran, Afghanistan and China.
The Gwadar port, he said, will not only serve Pakistan, but also the Middle East, Central Asian states and China. He said Rs 7 billion allocated for safe drinking water, about Rs 2 billion will be provided to Balochistan.
"The rich can always afford the bottled water, but I am working on providing clean water for the poor, who cannot afford costly water," he added.
The President said the Women Protection Act was framed at removing injustices against them and refuted the claim that it was against Islam. "No one in Pakistan can even think of enacting legislation against the Quran or Sunnah," the President said. President General Pervez Musharraf said every village in the rural and remote area of Balochistan will get electricity by the year 2008.
Addressing the public meeting here, the President said 1400 villages will be electrified this year, to be followed by another 2000 next year and announced that electricity will be provided to every village in Balochistan by the year 2008.
He said electricity from Iran was being supplied to Panjgur, Pasni, Turbat and Gwadar to provide power to maximum villages. President General Pervez Musharraf also inaugurated a 50-bed state-of-the-art Workers Welfare Fund Kidney Center.
The first-ever kidney center in Balochistan, constructed on 7.5 acres at a cost of Rs 385 million and having the diagnostic, dialysis, surgical and lab facilities will help the people of this area, as they had to travel to Karachi for treatment.
President Musharraf unveiled the plaque to open the facility. Minister of Labour, Manpower and Oversees Pakistanis, Ghulam Sarwar Khan briefed him about various facilities provided in the kidney center.
Earlier, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf addressing the public meeting appreciated the efforts and measures taken by President Musharraf for the development of Balochistan.
He said people are grateful to President General Pervez Musharraf for taking special measures for the development of Balochistan, which was ignored in the past. Quetta Nazim Maqbool Ahmad Lehri highlighted the development projects being initiated by the local government for the welfare of the people.
The public meeting was attended by a large number of people from Quetta and its adjoining areas particularly a large number of women belonging to different walks of life.
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