• PM inaugurates work on dualisation of Khuzdar-Kuchlak section of National Highway
• Announces support for families living in poverty, feasibility for Quetta metro

QUETTA: On his maiden visit to Balochistan during which he broke ground for the dualisation of Khuzdar-Kuchlak section of the National Highway, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday pledged to raise the issue of Balochistan’s missing persons with the powers that be and those responsible for it.

“I can only say that I will earnestly raise my voice along with yours, InshaAllah. We will take up the issue with the powers that be and those responsible for it. And we will talk to them on the basis of law, justice and merit so that it is addressed. If it is not resolved in accordance with law and justice, it will not end the prevailing sense of deprivation and disappointment even if we ensure that streams of milk and honey are flowing here,” said PM Sharif at the groundbreaking ceremony of the 330km Khuzdar-Kuchlak section of the Chaman-Karachi (N-25) National Highway.

Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Biz­enjo, acting governor Jan Mohammad Jamali, federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Communication Maulana Asad Mehmood and Minister for Housing and Works Maulana Abdul Wasey, Minister Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti, Israr Tareen and provincial ministers were also present on the occasion.

PM Sharif admitted that lack of facilities and neglect contributed to the sense of deprivation prevailing in Balochis­tan and noted that it could be alleviated only through diversion of energies and resources to the area-wise largest province of the country.

He regretted that despite being gifted with huge natural resources and geographically important location, Balochistan had been facing numerous challenges. He said rich with Sui natural gas reserves, the people of the province had not been given its due benefits. The true potential of Saindak, coalmines and Reko Diq reserves of gold and copper could be the harbinger of the development and prosperity, he said, regretting that some of them had been hit by litigation in the past.

He said the litigation surrounding Reko Diq in the past had frittered away precious time and national wealth due to which its benefits did not reach the people of the province. However, he said it was time to move ahead with unity by learning from the past mistakes.

In the past, he said, terrorism had wreaked havoc from 2000 to 2014 and the Baloch and Pashtuns living in the province bore the brunt just like the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province had become its worst victim. Both provinces had given unmatched sacrifices against the scourge of terrorism, he said, and lauded the sacrifices of the armed forces and the law enforcement agencies that had helped defeat the spectre of terrorism.

Referring to the recent incidents of terrorism, the prime minister pledged that the nation would defeat the scourge with unity and solidarity and stressed upon collective decision-making process to confront all the challenges.

He urged the people to shun the ‘narrative about south and north’ and give priority to resolving the core issues of Balochistan. He urged the political leadership to think of the people irrespective of any political divisions.

PM Sharif said the coalition government was faced with huge challenges but expressed the confidence that they would rewrite a history of progress and development.

He also announced financial support for about 50,000 families living below the poverty line if they would send their children to schools. He also asked relevant authorities to prepare a feasibility report for Quetta metro bus, besides establishment of a technical university. To encourage students, a laptop programme would be introduced in the province, he added.

About the highway project, the prime minister said this section of N-25 Khuzdar-Kuchlak road was called a ‘bloody road’ due to frequent fatal accidents. He directed the authorities concerned to immediately “initiate work on the whole project” instead of working out a phase-wise construction.

Expressing the confidence that dualization of Rs200 billion worth road project would bring economic prosperity, PM Sharif directed the officials concerned to ensure its completion within one and a half years.

The reconstruction and dualization of this section of Karachi-Quetta-Chaman highway would enhance transportation among the important cities of the province, he observed.

Minister for Communications Maulana Asad Mahmood said since political parties of Balochistan had reposed confidence in the new prime minister, a journey to development of Balochistan had started.

Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo expressed the hope that under the dynamic leadership of PM Sharif, the province would witness rapid development.

National Highway Authority (NHA) chairman Mohammad Khurram Agha earlier apprised the prime minister and his cabinet members that the total length of the road was 790kms and work on 330kms section of the highway worth Rs81 billion was being inaugurated. He said completion would benefit the entire population of Balochistan and contribute in economic uplift of the province.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2022