PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
A ceremony was held at the Chief Minister Secretariat where Director Federal Ministry for Industries Umar Zahid and Secretary Social Welfare Development Rauf Baloch signed the MoU.
Calling the program vital for provincial development, Kamal said in order to uplift Balochistan’s economy, it was necessary to start courses related to the natural resources.
“Fortunately, Balochistan has natural resources in abundance but we have been exporting our products without knowing their actual value-addition,” he said. “Hence, the province couldn’t yield positive results [in the past].”
Citing the government’s decision of providing small loans to provincial youth in collaboration with Akhuwat Foundation, Kamal said skill development courses and financial assistance will be beneficial for youngsters.
“They [youth] can even start their own businesses [through the initiative],” he added.
The chief minister directed authorities to consider the needs of rural and urban areas, instructing them to include training programmes following the China Pakistan Economic Corridor on tourism, hotel management and nursing courses.
Elaborating on the project, Director Umar Zahid informed the CM that the federal government will establish 21 institutes in the first-phase of skill development programme in which at least 3,000 people, particularly youth, will receive training,
“We have set a quality benchmark in the training programme to help yield numerous business opportunities for the participants of the course,” Zahid added.
He further said in the second phase, 20 more centres will be established while the three-year programme would also be further extended.
“In 2020, at least 12,000 individuals from Balochistan will be a part of skill development programme,” he said.
Pakistan-Afghanistan ties
Kamal on Wednesday while meeting the delegation of Afghan parliamentarians and members of Senate said Pakistan and Afghanistan had strong trade relations and shared a long cultural affiliation which needed to be further flourished following the burgeoning economic changes in the region.
Kamal welcomed the delegation led by Chairman Hizb e Wahdat Islami Mardum Afghanistan’s Haji Muhammad Muhaqiq at the Chief Minister Secretariat and added that despite witnessing ups and downs in relations, leadership in both the countries was willing to foster bilateral ties.
“Friendly relations between both the neighbouring countries will directly benefit the people therefore instead of creating more differences, both countries should enhance trade,” Kamal said, adding that strengthened economic relations would also let peace prevail in both the countries.
The CM corroborated the importance of Afghanistan for CPEC route and Tapi Gas Pipeline Project.
He reiterated that through amiable ties both the countries would be able to wipe-out poverty and meet future’s economic challenges.
“Being Muslim neighbours, Pakistan and Afghanistan should have unprecedented relations because hate and differences will keep pushing us back into the gloom and doom of poverty and terrorism,” Kamal maintained.
The members in the delegation lauded the views and hospitality of the chief minister and said they considered Pakistan their second home, also noting that the Afghan nation wanted friendly relations with their brother country.
“Pakistan has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees who escaped war. Our nation and the government have huge respect for their Pakistani brothers and sisters,” Haji Muhaqiq said on the occasion.
He called Peshwar-Jalalabad Motorway project and inclusion of Afghanistan in CPEC as beneficial for both the countries.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2020.
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