March, 31 2005	Thursday	20 Safar 1426

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UTHAL (Balochistan), March 30: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the government plans to gear up exploration for oil, gas and metals in Balochistan. He was speaking at the ceremony to hand over Lasbela Textile Mills to Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, some 135 kilometres from Karachi, on Wednesday. Governor Balochistan Owais A Ghani, Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf and Federal Ministers Jehangir Khan Tareen and Naseer Mengal were also present on the occasion.

The federal government has gifted to the university the mills wroth one billion rupee which was established 20 years ago with the financial assistance of Iran over an area of 102 acres.

Shaukat Aziz said Balochistan was rich in natural resources including oil, gas, marble, granite, zinc, lead, copper and there was a need to explore them for the benefit of people of this province as well as Pakistan.

“We will use the latest technology for mining and exploration for oil, gas and other minerals in the province”, he said. He pointed out that the Oil and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC) would expand its exploration activities in Balochistan to tap hydrocarbon potentials. This would increase income of the province and the people would prosper, he observed.

Mr Aziz said that Chinese firms working at Saindak mining project had proposed doubling of copper production from the mine to meet the growing international demand. Similarly an Australian company working in Balochistan also wanted to extract copper from a mine in Balochistan and initial exploration results were positive, he added.

He said Balochistan also had potential in agriculture and this sector could play an important role in the development of the province if proper attention was paid. He said Balochistan was producing a variety of fruits and vegetables besides cotton and wheat. Research can help farmers increase production of banana, apple, cheeko and grapes and Lasbela University can play an important role in this regard, he observed.

The PM advised the people to develop cattle farming and take loans from banks for increasing production of livestock. He said the government was launching a programme to boost livestock production. The federal government would send veterinary experts to each district to guide farmers on modern techniques, he sadi and added that livestock growth could lead to increased production of milk, which fetches a good return to farmers.

— APP