by Shafqat Ali

 

QUETTA, Apr. 29 (Gwadar Pro)- Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday afternoon said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will bring a revolution in the Balochistan province.

 

Addressing the groundbreaking of three roads under the National Highway Authority (NHA), the Prime Minister said Balochistan had been long neglected in the past and the government would take every step to minimize the suffering of locals.

 

He said the entire area along the western route of CPEC in Balochistan would be developed. “Balochistan will be developed into a new look. CPEC will bring a revolution in Balochistan,” he added.

 

The PM said the government was focused on bringing a revolution of prosperity in Balochistan through projects of infrastructure and human development.

 

The premier said despite financial constraints, his government was committed to diverting funds towards the development of Balochistan.

 

The PM hadarrived in Quetta on a day-long visit to launch the projects includingtheconstruction of 162-kilometreZiaratHarnairoad, the 23-kilometerdualizationof Quetta Western Bypass (N-25) andthe construction of 11-kilometreDeraMuradJamali Bypass (N-65) under th

 

CPEC.

 

PM Khan mentioned that compared with the 1,100-kilometre roads constructed by previous governments in 15 years, his government completed 3,300 km in two-and-a-half years.

 

“Caring for humanity was the main driving force that placed the nation at a high pedestal of morality,” he said. He regretted that had serious steps taken in the past, the country would have undergone immense development.

 

However, he said he was about making Pakistan rise by uplifting its weaker segments.

 

He said China’s development and its strategy to bring people out of poverty were exemplary and added that Pakistan could learn from the same model.

 

He mentioned that after Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, the government was expanding the network of Rs 0.1 million health insurance per household in Punjab and Gilgit Baltistan, and said the same would be discussed with the coalition government of Balochistan.

 

He said the project of direct subsidy to farmers on seeds and fertilizer under Kisan Card had been launched while data of 80 percent of deserving families had been registered for Ehsaas socio-welfare programme.

 

Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan said during the last 15 years, the previous governments left several development projects in tandem, while the incumbent was focused on their completion.

 

He emphasized on enhanced connectivity of Quetta with Naseerabad and Sibbi through dualization to facilitate farmers and traders from adjoining areas.

 

He said the construction of roads and dams would ensure the development of militancy-hit areas that had long witnessed unrest and suffering.

 

He said the provincial government was spending Rs 35 billion out of its own resources on the development of Balochistan besides the Rs 20 billion allocated by the federal government.

 

Minister for Communication Murad Saeed said the projects would usher in a new era of development in the province. He mentioned that Imran Khan started the western route of China Pakistan Economic Corridor from Balochistan, turning the dream of prosperity into reality.

 

The Prime Minister was also given a briefing on the overall situation of Balochistan and the development projects.