Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday said the government has taken practical measures for the development of Balochistan to bring it at par with other developed areas of the country.
Talking to a delegation of Nazims from Balochistan here at the Prime Minister Secretariat, he said that development projects like the Gwadar port and the coastal highway would bring a revolutionary change in the area with improved development.
The prime minister said it goes to the credit of the present government that it took practical steps to launch these projects which have existed only on papers for the last 20 years.
Shaukat Aziz said a conducive atmosphere was necessary to attract investment in Balochistan, adding the government has taken adequate measures to provide a level-playing field to both the local and the foreign investors there.
He said the Balochistan has 25 percent share in the Sandak Copper project, adding the government was playing a role of a facilitator in this project.
He said the government has also encouraged the investors to set up agro-based industries in Balochistan instead of merely concentrating on ghee or flour mills.
The prime minister said there should be more investment in livestock and dairy farming sectors for multi-dimension and broad-based development.
Referring to the importance of Local Government System, the prime minister said it was working very effectively, and the local governments have been empowered to resolve the problems of the people at the grass-roots level.
The prime minister said he believes in "people-friendly" government where the people should have a real authority.
He said the government would provide full support and assistance for the success of the Local Government System, adding every new system takes some time to take roots, and asked the representatives of Local Government System to continue their work with dedication and commitment to making the system a success.
He said that Nazims are the leading force in the Local Government System, therefore, they will have to do a lot for the success of the system.
Referring to a problem of a disease to palm tree, the prime minister assured that a team of experts would be sent to the area to provide technical help for its treatment.
He said after the completion of development projects in Balochistan, there would be tremendous improvement in basic needs of life, including provision of water, roads and electricity.
Appreciating the pace of development projects, the members of the delegation acknowledged the commitment of the present government for the real development of the area, adding the development projects initiated during the present government are unprecedented.
National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) Chairman Danyial Aziz was also present on this occasion.