President Zardari for joint efforts to develop Balochistan

President Asif Ali Zardari has stressed the need for joint efforts to develop Balochistan, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Tuesday.

Speaking during a huddle on law and order in Balochistan, and ongoing development projects in the province at the Chief Minister's Office, he reiterated his resolve to continue the Balochistan uplift campaign.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jafar Khan, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, ministers and senior officials attended the meeting.

The president said some powers do not want stability in Balochistan and the country, he pointed out stressing that terrorism and drug trafficking are interlinked. An effective strategy should be adopted for creating jobs for the people of the border areas. Law enforcement agencies should continue operations against terrorism."

Sindh government's system can be replicated for training youth in various fields including nursing, he stressed, adding that for the foreign jobs of the technically skilled youth of Balochistan, support should be obtained from various countries through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

He added:  “Balochistan can benefit from the services of Sindh province in various fields of public interest including health. The two provinces should join hands for public welfare."

 The president was given a briefing on the law and order and the progress of different ongoing development projects in the province.

During the meeting, the president underscored the need to eliminate smuggling which was causing damage to the national economy and observed that there was a deep link between terrorism and narcotics smuggling.

He said that they were fully cognizant of the backwardness and the frail economic situation of the residents of the province, adding that the province lacked health facilities when compared with other provinces.

The president stressed for seeking of cooperation from different countries through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the provision of jobs to the technically educated and skilled youth of the province abroad.

He said for the removal of the backwardness of the province, the release of funds by the federal government was essential and for the public welfare-oriented projects, funds can be released for certain projects on a priority basis.

The president underlined the need for outsourcing prospects over the Kachhi Canal and said that for the completion of projects, the public-private partnership system could be evolved.

He proposed the construction of dams and supply of water for making the lands cultivable and overcoming the paucity of water in the province by arranging for water supply from Central Asian countries. The chief minister highlighted the governance, climate change issues and security challenges in the province.

He said that due to a lack of basic infrastructure and communication network in the province, in the far-flung areas, the provision of basic facilities was a real challenge and stressed the expeditious release of PSDP and other allocated funds for the mega development projects.

Bugti said they were working seriously for maintaining peace in the province and for the future course, holding negotiations could not be ruled out, adding that agenda in this regard should be reached with consensus at the national level.