by Shafqat Ali

QUETTA, Nov. 7 (Gwadar Pro)- Pakistani Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Friday afternoon assured Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo that the development of the Balochistan province was among the top priorities of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

In a meeting with Bizenjo at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Umar underscored that both the Pakistani and the Chinese governments were committed to completing the CPEC projects on time for the benefit of the two sides and the whole region.

According to an official statement, the two agreed on the timely release of funds for speedy completion of the development projects in Balochistan and the establishment of an effective mechanism to monitor these projects.

A commitment was made to work with the federal and provincial governments for a lasting solution to long-standing development issues in the meeting.

Asad Umar informed that Prime Minister Imran Khan would review the progress of development projects in Balochistan. As for the development package of South Balochistan, a high level meeting would be held soon.

Umar remarked that the federal government realized that the CPEC hub Gwadar cannot be fully developed unless the problems of the local people were resolved.

He maintained that the purpose of his visit was to review the progress of projects, adding that the early completion of infrastructure, solar and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects in Balochistan would be ensured.

The Planning Minister pledged that the dams and road infrastructure projects would be completed in collaboration with the provincial government. “I also assure the appointment of Planning Commission and NHA’s (National Highway Authority) members in Balochistan,” he added.

Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, on the occasion, mentioned that the eyes of the whole world were now on Balochistan. He contended that the sense of deprivation in the province must be removed for peace and prosperity.

On the occasion, Member Balochistan Provincial Assembly Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi welcomed the inclusion of Balochistan projects in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the next financial year. The meeting also decided to start the project of M-8 Awaran Naal Link Roads.

Federal Minister Zubeida Jalal, Member Provincial Assembly Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Chief Secretary Mathar Niaz Rana, Additional Chief Secretary Development Hafiz Abdul Basit and Secretary Finance Abdul Rehman Buzdar were also present in the meeting.

This article originally appeared on Gwadar Pro.