ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed concerns over the slow pace of the execution of development projects under the Rs600 billion southern Balochistan package and directed the committee overseeing the work to meet every month to review new developments.
Announced in November last, the package offered a series of projects in nine southern districts of the province. The federal government provided Rs540 billion and the rest is being spent by the provincial government.
The prime minister, who chaired a high-level meeting Saturday to review the progress on the realisation of the package, also instructed for holding the meeting of the executive committee fortnightly to speed up work on 200 development projects.
He was told that the Apex Committee, headed by the Chief Minister, met only since its formation.
The prime minister directed the authorities to complete Turbat International Airport and build two nursing colleges in Gwadar and Turbat cities at the earliest.
Khan said he would personally hold review meetings every month to remove impediments in the completion of the projects.
He observed the issues faced by Balochistan were different from the rest of the country as its population was scattered, and due to long distances, “we have to find out of the box solutions to improve the lives of people of Balochistan”.
He directed ministries of planning, energy and maritime affairs, and the provincial government to work in close coordination to accelerate the work on transport, energy and infrastructure projects.
Earlier, Khan was briefed that Balochistan was a resource-rich province as it produces 40 percent of the locally produced gas in the country. Ownership of the federal government was needed to solve various issues being faced by the province.
The prime minister directed the Balochistan government to revamp its governance structure at the grassroots level not only to accelerate the pace of work on development projects but also to improve the service delivery to the common man.
He also directed the authorities concerned to launch an effective media campaign to ensure public awareness of the government’s initiatives for the welfare of the people of Balochistan.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, Minister for Industries Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and other senior officers.
On Friday, Khan directed the Planning Commission to prepare another special development package for the development of northern Balochistan.
He issued these instructions during a meeting with Bizenjo in Islamabad.
A report said the prime minister also discussed various issues, including the development and financial needs of the province, and reviewed the pace of work and implementation of the federal government-funded development projects, including the package for the southern districts.
