President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday vowed consistent focus on development of remote areas and saboteurs and said that anti-development elements cannot deter the process of socio-economic progress, as the masses want to move forward.
Addressing a public gathering the President also announced a series of Rs 1.5 billion development projects for Kohlu district.During the president's visit, some miscreants fired rockets at Kohlu, which did not disrupt the president's visit and it went on as scheduled.
Enlisting support of the masses, he said, the government would continue to strive for progress of the far-flung areas, ignored in the past and also remove any feeling of deprivation.
"We are not deterred by anti-development elements and will continue to steer the country on the path of socio-economic development. With your support we will together move forward," he said in reference to recent incidents of rocket firing and bomb blasts in the area.
President Musharraf, who is the first head of the state to visit Kohlu in the last quarter of a century, said his government in the last six years had launched a number of mega projects in the province to pull them out of backwaters of development and allay the sense of deprivation.
He said he wanted socio-economic improvement of the people of Balochistan and wondered as to why some people were opposed to it.
"We have the financial resources and will put them to use for the uplift of the people of Balochistan, so opposition to development is absolutely unjustified.
"You should be rest assured that all resources of the province will be utilised for your well being, so do not pay any heed to the elements who are indulged in utterly baseless propaganda," he said.
President Musharraf said increase in oil and gas exploration activities would help in stepping up the pace of development in the province. "Your progress will be progress of Pakistan," he said, describing the people of Balochistan as courageous, brave and hospitable.
Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani and Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf were also present on the occasion.
The president informed the cheering crowd that operationalisation of Gwadar deep seaport by mid-summer would begin a new era of development in the province, the country and facilitate trade in the region.
"We will run Gwadar as a modern port - it will not only bring massive economic development to the province and the country, but would also serve as trade corridor for Central Asia, Afghanistan and the Gulf region."
Dilating upon the benefits the development projects would accrue to the local populace, the president said these would yield unprecedented economic opportunities. The Baloch people are being trained to work at the Gwadar Port and dams and would definitely get better employment, he said.
He referred to Mirani and Sabakzai dams and said availability of water would bring thousands of acres of land under cultivation and also provide large quantities of fish as an economic means.
Thousands of people from Balochistan, he said, are being recruited in the Frontier Corps and Coast Guards.
"This is the way forward to sustainable development," he emphasised.
Speaking on the steps taken to raise agricultural growth, he said, the 500-km long Kacchi Canal is being built at a cost of Rs 40 billion with Punjab giving 300-km of land for Balochistan.
The canal will irrigate 700,000 acres of land in Balochistan and boost agrarian economy, he said. Similarly, he said, a number of schemes have been undertaken to elevate the quality of life of the people of the province and in this respect counted Rs 8 billion water supply project as a major step.
"We are building schools and hospitals, we are ready to bring into use all resources for development of Balochistan, identify the projects and you will always find me on your side. I will stand by you and I also know from your expression of support that you are wholeheartedly with me," the president said.
Unveiling a massive Rs 1.3 billion development plan for Kohlu district, Musharraf said it would cover 35 schemes, including Rs 1 billion Kohlu-Sibi Road, which would open up new routes to prosperity.
The other schemes include Rs 40.3 million network of 14 roads infrastructure in Kohlu district, electrification of villages at a cost of Rs 10 million, upgradation of intermediate college to degree college at a cost of Rs 20 million, a high school in a tehsil, a cadet school in Kohlu and Rs 50 million water supply scheme under which 23 tube-wells would be installed.
In addition, district hospital in Kohlu would be revamped and water storage dams would also be constructed.
"I shall stand firmly by those who are for development, we should not heed those who are anti-development and try to retard progress, that way we will together pursue the path of development," the president said.
He also recounted the time when he was posted here as a young officer in the 1970s and said he fondly remembers the hospitality of the local people.
Earlier, Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf strongly condemned all acts of terrorism and said the miscreants would not be allowed to disrupt the ongoing process of development.
He paid rich tributes to President Musharraf for his monumental contribution to the development of Balochistan since the inception of his government.
"Your visit to the area reflects your abiding commitment to bringing the underdeveloped areas at par with the developed parts of the country. We have great respect for your efforts aimed at putting Pakistan and its people first."
Local leaders in their addresses warmly welcomed the president, saying his leadership and continued focus on development has brightened future prospects for their young generation and opened new vistas of progress. They also presented traditional gifts to the president.