Govt to adopt holistic policy towards development of Balochistan: minister

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar said that the federal government has adopted a holistic policy towards Balochistan to bring it at par with other areas of the country.

The federal minister was speaking to a delegation from Balochistan which called on him. Federal Minister for Defence Production Ms. Zubaida Jalal, parliamentarians from Balochistan and senior officials of the ministry were also present in the meeting.

He emphasised that the federal government is considering launching a project to provide electricity, construct dams in collaboration with provincial government to provide clean drinking water to the people of Balochistan as well as enhance financial allocation as part of the Quetta package.

The planning minister stated that the incumbent government is focusing on providing electricity and clean drinking water, and is committed to bring socio-economic development in the province to uplift the people of the area.

He apprised the delegation that a feasibility study would be conducted soon for to construct a dam in collaboration with provincial government to provide clean drinking water to people of the area.

He also emphasised upon the need to conserve water to increase water storage. He directed the officials concerned to prepare a master plan to meet water needs of Quetta city.

He noted that a five million gallon per day (MGD) desalination plant was being built to meet the water requirements of Gwadar.

The planning minister said that previous governments did not pay much attention on development of the largest province of the country in terms of area.

He added that the present government has prioritised development of Balochistan to improve lives of the local people as well as tap its potential to contribute to national progress of the country.