Another trade terminal opened at Pak-Afghan border

Expected to boost employment opportunities, economic activities

QUETTA:

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal inaugurated a trade terminal in Badini at the Pak-Afghan Border on Wednesday.

Expressing his views during the inauguration ceremony, he said the government had completed record development projects and many others were underway. "The condition of the province would have been much better today, if the available resources were utilised properly in the past regimes."

The provincial chief executive added that the setting up of trade terminals and border markets in the border areas of the province would create employment opportunities and increase economic activities in the area. "The credit for the development of Balochistan goes to the provincial and federal government, Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps.”

The prime pinister, chief of the army staff and the armed forces deserved to be congratulated for their support in advancing the journey of development of Balochistan, he added.

Further on, in his address, the CM said that legislators must take the interests of people into account and address their problems by taking a clear direction and taking practical steps during decision making process. “In order to move the development process forward, the participation and mutual trust of all stakeholders was essential.”

CM Kamal laid emphasis on strengthening the confidence of people in the development process through our initiatives. “Biggest problem in Balochistan was the lack of infrastructure which was an obstacle in the development process.”

The chief minister urged the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce to establish good relations with their Afghan businessmen and encourage the Afghan people to take full advantage of that trade corridor. “Rs 400 billion costing western route project, from Zhob to Gwadar would bring development and prosperity in the area.”

It is pertinent to mention that the provincial government would construct 2700 Kilometers roads during the current financial year to improve the communication system in the province. The government has earmarked Rs33.87 billion for the development of roads and communication sector of the province.

Commander Southern Command, Lt Gen Muhammad Waseem Ashraf termed the opening of Badini trade-terminal as a good step, which would increase trade activities between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He added that the Pakistan Army, FC and Balochistan government made joint efforts for establishing the new trade terminal to facilitate traders, business community and people living in the bordering areas. “Aprroximately Rs6 billion would be spent on the development of roads and the infrastructure of the bordering belt.”

Lt Gen Ashraf also said that the terminal would boost socio-economic activities and generate jobs for the people living on both sides of the border. “Through this terminal, we would be able to export our products to the Central Asian states as well. All-out efforts would be made to provide basic facilities to people in bordering areas of the country.” APP

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2020.