Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that the pace of development in Balochistan had increased substantially due to several infrastructure projects as well as further investment in education, healthcare, provision of clean water and other basic services to directly benefit the people.
He was talking to Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf, who called on him at the PM House here on Tuesday, a press release said. The prime minister said that infrastructure projects like Gwadar Deep Sea Port, Mirani Dam, Coastal highway and other projects had created a large direct and indirect job opportunities.
He said the government was also encouraging investment in mining, energy, agriculture and fishing. The President's Rozgar scheme and the National Internship Programme would provide self-employment opportunities and jobs to thousands of youth all over the country, including Balochistan.
He said Balochistan had been neglected in the past hence the government was making all out efforts for socio-economic uplift of the province and striving to bring it at par with the more developed areas of the country.
Specifically mentioning Gwadar Deep Sea Port, the prime minister said its inauguration by President General Pervez Musharraf later this month would fulfil another commitment of the government to the people of Balochistan and would usher in a new era of development and prosperity. He said the Port would generate immense opportunities for the people of Balochistan, as thousands of jobs and new businesses would be created in Gwadar.
He said the duty-free economic zones to be set up near the Port to boost the exports would help harness the vast potential in natural resources of the area and would also lead to development of heavy and large-scale industries, petrochemicals and manufacturing sector.
The chief minister of Balochistan said that the people of the province were highly appreciative of the initiatives undertaken by President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz by taking personal interest in the development and prosperity of Balochistan.
He said the Gwadar Port would change the fate of the area. Jam Muhammad Yousuf updated the prime minister about PML's enrolment drive in the province and other party matters. He also briefed him about the pace of implementation of the ongoing development projects and the law and order situation in the province.