Kamal pledges end to poverty in province

Discusses formation of authority to focus on social protection, deprivation

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Aliyani on Tuesday stressed upon utilisation of provincial resources to eradicate poverty and backwardness from the province. He was presiding over a meeting regarding social protection, development and poverty here in Quetta.

The meeting discussed the formation of an authority in the province with the assistance of the World Bank’s to focus on social protection and poverty.

“Balochistan is replete with natural resources and those are enough to turn the province into the most developed and prosperous region of the country,” said Kamal as he emphasised on utilisation of available resources with sincerity.

Provincial Minister for Social Development Mir Asad Baloch, Chief Secretary Capt (retd) Fazeel Asghar, Additional Chief Secretary for P&D Abdul Rehman Buzdar and government officials were present in the meeting.

Addressing on the occasion, Kamal underscored the need of a mechanism to run all departments with an effective policy.

“Time has come to functionalise all individuals in the society so that they can play their part in Balochistan’s social development,” Kamal added.

He lamented poor governance in the province during the past regimes and said unfortunately many resourceful departments were ‘deliberately neglected’, which enhanced Balochistan’s deprivation.

“The resource-rich province has enough capacity to boost the economy of not just Balochistan but the entire country,” said the CM also implying that skill development courses are essential for yielding better human resource.

Kamal lauded the initiative of public-private partnership and termed the move lucrative for the provincial government and private companies that are willing to invest in Balochistan.

“Incumbent government is committed to providing a favourable business environment to the national and foreign companies in Balochistan, more job opportunities for our youth will be created,” Jam Kamal said.

WFP ambassador

The global ambassador of World Food Programme (WFP) and Princess of Jordan Sarah Zeid called on Chief Minister Balochistan and discussed malnutrition in the province.

Kamal informed the WFP’s global ambassador about government’s policies, resources, and priorities being implemented in Balochistan to address poverty and malnutrition.

“Incumbent regime in the province is keenly working on education and health sectors, hence special campaigns are being launched against fatal diseases, including polio,” said Kamal as he also discussed vaccination for mother and children.

The chief minister announced partnership with the WFP to commence implementation on nutrition programme, particularly for mothers and children across the province.

Zeid lauded the initiative being taken by the provincial government on the occasion.

Provincial ministers Naseebullah Marri, Mir Zia Langove, Parliamentary Secretary Bushra Rind and Country Director of WFP were also present.

NAB DG meets CM

Director General National Accountability Bureau (DG NAB) Balochistan Farmanullah Khan also met Kamal on Tuesday.

NAB DG briefed the CM about the performance of his department and said the anti-graft watchdog is taking effective steps to raise awareness against corruption in the society.

Praising NAB’s performance Kamal said the complete elimination of corruption needs to be ensured so that resources can be better utilised and benefits of development projects can be reaped by the public.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2019.