ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed concerns over the slow pace of work on the development projects under the Southern Balochistan Development Package and directed the provincial authorities to hold the Apex Committee meeting every month to review the projects’ execution.
The premier made these remarks while chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Saturday. He also instructed for holding the meeting of the execution committee fortnightly to speed up work on 200 development projects worth Rs 655 billion.
The meeting was attended by Energy Minister Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Industries Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Maritime Affairs Minister Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Advisor on Finance Shaukat Fayyaz Tarin, Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and other senior officers concerned.
During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed that only one meeting of the Apex Committee was held in a year which was headed by the Chief Minister of the province.
Talking about the development projects, the premier directed the authorities concerned to complete Turbat Airport and build two nursing colleges in Gwadar and Turbat at the earliest. He said he would personally hold review committee meetings every month to remove impediments in the completion of the development projects.
PM Imran also noted that the issues faced by Balochistan were different from the rest of the country as its population was scattered, and due to the long distance between the localities, the government would have to find out-of-the-box solutions to improve the lives of the people of Balochistan.
He directed ministries of planning, energy, maritime affairs, and the Government of Balochistan to work in close coordination to accelerate the work on transport, energy and infrastructure projects under the package.
The prime minister also directed the Balochistan government to revamp its governance structure at the grassroots level not only to accelerate the pace of work on development projects but also to improve the service delivery to the common man.
He also directed the authorities concerned to launch an effective media campaign to ensure maximum public awareness of the government’s initiatives for the welfare of the people of Balochistan.
