Equipment of shelved venture cost govt Rs9.8m, CM told

Zehri says idle equipment will be utilised for public welfare

Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has said his government will utilise the equipment, machinery and vehicles used for the Balochistan Copper and Gold Project on welfare schemes.

The chief minister was briefed about the assets of the shelved project during a visit to the project’s Quetta office on Wednesday and informed that the provincial government had spent Rs9.8 million on buying vehicles, generators and other equipment.



Zehri was told that the equipment was purchased even before the re-launch of the Reko Diq Copper and Gold Project. The equipment and luxury vehicles were brought to the Quetta office from the camp site where the project was monitored by Dr Samar Mubarakmand through remote monitoring, with Islamabad as the headquarters.

Following the election and formation of a new government, the project was closed as the newly-elected government stopped funding the project, considering it a total waste of resources.

After the briefing, the chief minister said the equipment would be used for people’s welfare projects.



Zehri also inspected an under-construction flyover in Quetta and directed the engineers and officials concerned to complete the work by August 14 as the prime minister will be invited to inaugurate the flyover and other projects.

“Round-the-clock work should be carried out so that the project can be completed by August 14 for inauguration by the prime minister,” Zehri told the officials and engineers present at the site.

The chief minister was informed that 90% work on the project had been completed. He was also informed that work on Samanguli Road was continuing at a cost of over Rs2 billion.