Agriculture minister decries lack of mega uplift projects in Balochistan

Achakzai says schemes such as metro trains have been executed in other provinces but not in Balochistan

QUETTA: Slamming the federal government for neglecting development in the province, Balochistan Minister for Agriculture Zamrak Khan Achakzai said that the disparity was obvious as mega projects like the metro service, green bus service and motorways were being executed in other provinces.

He expressed these views during a meeting organised by the Planning and Development (P&D) Department in which the ministry presented its 12th five-year plan.

The P&D department was represented by economist Rai Nasir and Chief Planning Coordinator Dr Hasan Mohsin. Other officials who attended the meeting included Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) Gohram Bugti and Abdul Rasheed, P&D Additional Chief Secretary Abdul Rehman Buzdar and secretaries of relevant departments.

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Briefing about ongoing or incoming water projects in the province, Achakzai said, “During the tenure of previous provincial government, projects of drinking water, a basic need of the people, remained incomplete.”

Achakzai insisted that the federal government should focus on the development of water, education, agriculture and mineral sectors along with providing financial assistance to the provincial government to eliminate poverty and ensure prosperity.

“The province lags behind because of lack of development projects,” Achakzai said.

The minister added that Balochistan has been continuously ignored in infrastructure projects. “The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects were initiated from the province but Balochistan does not have a major highway project, one of the primary causes of road accidents in the province,” he said.

Highlighting the scarcity of water, Achakzai said that Balochistan was in dire need of new dams but lack of funds had brought even ongoing projects to a halt.

“For the timely completion of ongoing federal projects, the federal Planning Commission should coordinate with the officials of Balochistan,” he urged.

The minister added that the federal government needs to release funds on time to avoid delays in the ongoing projects.