- Minister says govt envisions developing intermediate cities for expansion of economic activities and to mitigate the influx of migrants to main cities
ISLAMABAD: Planning, Development & Reform Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar has said that the government is committed to developing Balochistan in order to harness the province’s true potential and to bring it at par with other developed areas of the country.
The minister was talking to National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri and Balochistan National Party Chairman Sardar Akhtar Mengal in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The planning minister said that the government is working on a regional equalization development programme, adding that development of Balochistan would be accorded top priority in the said plan.
He stated that Balochistan would get the lion’s share of various socio-economic initiatives and schemes, especially for poverty reduction.
Bakhtiar said that the government is also focusing on developing intermediate cities for expansion of economic activities and to mitigate the influx of migrants to cities.
The minister apprised that Prime Minister Imran Khan in his recent visit to Balochistan performed the groundbreaking of the Rs65 billion Zhob-Kuchlak section of the western route, Rs17 billion transmission line for Makran coast, Rs23 billion new Gwadar Airport project, hospital as well as a vocational institute.
“This shows the commitment of the government for the development of marginalized regions of the country,” the minister concluded.
