Balochistan govt to speed up work on Quetta safe city project

CM Kamal directs authorities to upgrade scheme into smart project


Mohammad Zafar February 19, 2020
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal presides over a meeting in Quetta. PHOTO: EXPRESS

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani on Tuesday presided over a law and order meeting in the provincial capital and termed the Quetta Safe City Project imperative to secure life and property in the city.

The meeting approved effective measures regarding Quetta Safe City Project while Kamal also directed authorities concerned to remove hurdles causing delays in the implementation of the mega initiative.

“Quetta Safe City Project will be helpful in eliminating terrorism from the provincial capital while the project will also strengthen law enforcement agencies’ capabilities to deal with criminal activities,” said Kamal while addressing the meeting. He also directed authorities to upgrade the scheme into a smart project.

Reviewing the affairs and progress on the project, the meeting was informed that the provincial government has allocated Rs2.48 billion for its work while 1,426 highly efficient cameras will be connected through fiber optics and installed in the city.

“We have been establishing a state-of-the-art security system in the city’s six points. Meanwhile, suspicious vehicles and number plates will be verified through digital control room,” Secretary Science and Information Technology said during the meeting.

He added that all police stations in Quetta city will be connected through fiber optic cables and radio communication system while night vision thermal cameras will also be installed in the city.

Meanwhile, Kamal stressed upon quick completion of the project and directed authorities concerned to induct under-construction highways, including eastern and western bypass, Hanna Road, Nawa Killi Bypass, Saryab and Sabzal roads with the initiative. While reviewing Gwadar Safe City Project, the meeting was informed that the government has appointed a consultant for the project who would submit report on it in the coming weeks.

Kamal further ordered to submit Balochistan Smart Citizens Act 2020 in the next cabinet meeting for approval.

Chief Secretary Balochistan Capt (retd) Fazeel Asghar, Inspector General of Police Mohsin Hassan Butt, DIG Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema, Secretary Finance and Secretary Science and IT attended the meeting.

Quetta blast victims

Kamal on Tuesday also visited the Trauma Centre at Civil Hospital to inquire after the health of those injured in Quetta blast and wished them speedy recovery. Doctors on the occasion briefed the chief minister about the condition of the injured.

Kamal directed the hospital staff to ensure best treatment facilities for the patients and blast victims and instructed officials to transfer critically wounded persons by air ambulance to Karachi immediately, adding that the provincial government will bear the expenses. “Elements involved in the terrorist incident will be brought to justice,” Kamal vowed.

Later, he held an informal meeting at the Trauma Centre and reviewed the affairs of the Civil Hospital.

Provincial Minister Zamarak Khan Achakzai, Secretary Health, DG Health, MS Civil Hospital and doctors of the Trauma Centre attended the meeting.

CM inquired from the authorities about the problems faced by the hospital and the trauma centre.

While showing dissatisfaction over the administrative affairs of the treasury hospitals, the CM said that the teaching cadres of the hospitals need to combine the services of doctors, specialists, nursing cadres and technicians so that they can all be accountable to one authority.

“The administrative affairs of the hospitals will also improve and the service delivery system will be better developed,” Kamal said as he directed the secretary health to submit recommendations in this regard.

He said that the provincial government has issued tremendous funds for the purchase and repair of medical devices to the treasury care hospitals of Quetta, while the financial and administrative powers of the hospitals have also been eliminated.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2020.

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