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ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has announced a package for development projects in southern Balochistan.
Addressing a press conference, the federal minister said the government would spend Rs 600 billion in nine districts of southern Balochistan during the next three years to improve the living standard of local people.
The federal government would provide Rs 540 billion, while the rest would be spent by the Balochistan government and also engage the private sector. He said the package was prepared under the special direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan who had firm belief in the development of weak segments of the society.
“The historic package has been prepared with an integrated strategy to ensure that the people belonging to all segments of the society should be benefitted,” he added.
The minister hoped that after the completion of the projects, the most impoverished area of the country would see prosperity as envisioned by the prime minister.
Asad Umar said at present only 12 percent people of South Balochistan were receiving electricity. Under this package, electricity will be provided to over 57 percent the scattered population of the area. He said the government would build 16 new dams which would irrigate about 150,000 acres of land.
He said around 640,000 children would be given distance education and they would be connected to the teachers in big cities. Similarly 35,000 youth of the area would be given training to earn as freelancers.
Under the Waseela Taleem Programme, as many as 83,000 children would be given free education and the government would also pay a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500 each to the parents of boys and Rs 2,000 each to those of girl students.
The minister said the area was suitable for olive and date cultivation and the government would establish an olive and three date processing units to help the farmers add value to their produce.
Asad Umar maintained that in the health sector, 200 health centers would be up-graded. Under the Sehat Nashonuma Programme, he said, the pregnant ladies and newborn babies would be provided with required food so that the problem of stunting could be prevented.
Replying to a question, Asad Umar said contrary to the past, the government will not only identify the development projects for an area but also establish an integrated governance structure to ensure their timely implementation.”
To another query, he said first the government had announced a package for the erstwhile FATA, then for Karachi and now for South Balochistan.
The next turn would be of Northern Balochistan, interior Sindh and Gilgit Baltistan so that Imran Khan’s vision of providing equal opportunities to the people of all areas in the country could be realised.
Minister for Information Shibli Faraz said Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced a special package for Balochistan like he did for other parts of the country. He said the prime minister was determined to bring progress and prosperity to the backward and far flung areas.
