ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that he would soon visit Balochistan and unveil a comprehensive development package for “backward” southern parts of the province.

Presiding over a meeting on development projects for backward areas of the province, he said: “I will soon visit south Balochistan and announce a comprehensive development package for southern Balochistan areas and inaugurate projects.”

He said his government had given top priority to the development of Balochistan so that this region could progress like other parts of the country.

Prime Minister Khan said south Balochistan had been neglected in the past due to which the people of this area faced poverty and backwardness. “Gwadar Port is of paramount importance which will prove to be an important milestone for the development of the country,” he added.

The meeting was apprised of the proposed development package for the backward districts of Balochistan, especially Khuzdar, Awaran, Chagai, Kharan, Washik, Lasbela, Gwadar, Panjgur and Turbat. A detailed briefing was also given on roads, energy, dams for water storage, education, health, agriculture, livestock, fisheries and other projects for south Balochistan.

In a meeting with visiting Afghan Minister for Industry and Commerce Nisar Ahmed Faizi Ghoryani, Prime Minister Khan said peace in Afghanistan would be beneficial for the entire region by enhancing regional connectivity and providing new opportunities for economic cooperation.

Imran meets Afghan minister, chairs meeting on housing, construction, development

He welcomed the Afghan dignitary and highlighted the close fraternal ties between the two countries. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood was also present in the meeting, a PM Office press release said.

The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s consistent support for peace and stability in Afghanistan and emphasised the need for a negotiated political settlement. He was of the view that Pakistan and Afghanistan had untapped economic synergies and complementarities which could be realised only through cooperation in the economic and trade sphere.

The Afghan minister appreciated the positive role played by Pakistan in facilitating the peace process in his country and desired for enhanced economic and trade ties between the two countries.

PM’s favourite quotes

Against the backdrop of the current worldwide protests by Muslims against display of blasphemous caricatures in France and its backing by President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Khan said the words of a French poet, historian and statesman, Alphonse de Lamartine, about Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were one of his favorite quotes.

On Twitter, the prime minister shared a quote of the French poet with the comment, “One of my favourite quotes about our beloved Prophet PBUH.”

In his book 'Histoire de la Turquie', Alphonse de Lamartine said: “If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad? The most famous men created arms, laws, and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislations, empires, peoples, dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the then inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and the souls.”

Chairing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee on housing, construction and development, Prime Minis­ter Khan said construction activities would help overcome the adverse impact of coronavirus in the country and provide jobs.

The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to facilitate investors in the construction sector. “Make all procedures easy for the investors,” he said.

The Balochistan chief secretary apprised the meeting that the provincial government had received applications for 1067 commercial and 2033 residential schemes for approval.

The Sindh chief secretary said the provincial government had received applications for 877 residential and 10 industrial schemes since April 11.

Capital Development Authority chairman Amir Ali Ahmed said his administration was digitalising property documents in Islamabad. He said an agreement had been signed with consultancy firm One Link to facilitate investors.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2020