May 4, 2005	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 24, 1426

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QUETTA, May 3: The Planning Commission of Pakistan has approved construction of three major dams and 200 delay action dams in different areas of Balochistan and decided to provide more funds for developing resources in the province. The three major dams include the Hingol dam in Lasbela district. The other two would be constructed in the remote areas of Kharan and Qila Abdullah.

The deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr Ikram Shiekh, said this while presiding over a high-level meeting here on Tuesday.

Provincial ministers Abdul Qadoos Bizenjo, Shoaib Nausherwani, and Hafiz Hamadullah, provincial secretaries and other officials concerned also attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed Balochistan’s development projects for medium-term development framework 2005-10 while the officials concerned presented various development projects to the Planning Commission of Pakistan. The Balochistan additional chief secretary for planning and development, Major (retd) Nadir Ali, briefed the meeting about the on-going development process in the province.

Dr Ikram informed the meeting that the federal government has decided to take steps on a priority basis for removing backwardness of Balochistan declaring it a province of less developed districts.

He said that it was also decided that Balochistan would be provided more funds for developing its resources and its high share in the Federal PSDP would be retained in future as Balochistan’s share in the FPSDP was already high in comparison to the other provinces.

He said that the commission has also decided to develop human resources of the province and in this regard more equipment would be provided to vocational institutes in Balochistan on a priority basis so that the number of students could be increased in professional educational institutes.

The meeting was told that the commission for the promotion of livestock also approved a project for Balochistan that would cost Rs600 million, which would be implemented soon. The commission would extend all help and cooperation to the provincial government to compensate for the losses of livestock caused by a long dry spell in Balochistan and would provide funds for developing this sector.

The Commission informed the meeting that a decision regarding setting up of modern cold storage and preservation plants in the province was also taken to promote the agricultural sector, especially the fruit industry. The Atomic Energy Commission would work on this project, which is expected to start by July this year.

Referring to the development of solar and wind energy sector in the province, the commission said that the members of the Energy Board would soon visit Balochistan so this system could be introduced in the province and projects already started could be expanded.

Those present in the meeting were informed that the government was working on a modern line based policy to overcome energy-related problems in the country and by the end of this year the production of solar-based tubes, bulbs, fan and solar heaters would be launched in the country.

Dr Ikram announced that Balochistan would be provided required funds for higher education and asked the provincial government to inform the federal government about its plans for developing fisheries and mineral sectors in the province.