'Chagai corridor to unlock mineral riches'

Shehbaz reaffirms focus on Balochistan's progress

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized on Wednesday that the development and prosperity of Balochistan is a top priority for the current government.

During a meeting with former Senate Chairman and Balochistan Assembly Member Sadiq Sanjrani, the prime minister reviewed various issues concerning the province.

He announced the development of the Chagai Mineral Corridor to fully utilize Balochistan's mineral reserves, with several additional projects planned for the corridor, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

A new railway line will be constructed from Chagai to Gwadar to improve access to the mineral reserves and support Gwadar port.

Furthermore, a grid station is being established in Chagai to enhance the electricity supply, and efforts are underway to ensure a continuous water supply in the region.

Sanjrani briefed the prime minister on the Nokundi Master Plan for the development of Nokundi city and expressed gratitude for the prime minister's focused attention on Balochistan's development and the implementation of practical measures.

IT, Telecom sectors

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that the federal government had allocated a historic development budget in the current fiscal year for the promotion of information technology and telecom sectors.

He said the incumbent government was prioritizing steps for boosting country's IT exports.

The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with a four-member delegation of GSM Association led by its Asia Pacific head Julian Gorman, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for IT and Telecom Shaza Khawaja Fatima, Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Major General (retired) Hafeezur Rehman and relevant senior officials.

The prime minister observed that GSMA had significant and vital role in the digitization processes and welcomed holding of Digital National Summit in Islamabad for the promotion of telecommunication and IT.

He said the mechanism processes for IT sector reforms and digitization was being implemented and the focus was made on common man's better access to internet, digital infrastructure, E-Governance, professional training of youth in the digital skills and innovations, besides promotion of business in this sector.

"Our vision envisaged access to smartphone by every individual, broadband internet facility to every household and facility of QR Code for all businesses," the press release quoted the prime minister as saying.

The delegation apprised the prime minister of GSMA role throughout the world, including Pakistan, for the promotion of telecom services and expressed its keen interest in enhancing cooperation with the government in IT and telecom sectors.

Tree plantation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the countrywide monsoon tree plantation drive by planting a sapling.

Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said he had directed the concerned departments and institutions to plant at least 100 million saplings across the country including Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) to save the country from the impacts of climate change that badly hit the country in 2022.