October 22, 2006	Sunday	Ramazan 28, 1427

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QUETTA, Oct 21: The Balochistan government has set up a special wing in the planning and development department to monitor implementation of development projects being carried out in the province under directives of the president and the prime minister.

A high-level meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf on Saturday, said hurdles delaying completion of development projects in the province would be removed.

The chief minister said politics in government departments would not be allowed.

The meeting reviewed the pace of development projects being carried out in the province.

The meeting was told that the special wing set up in the P&D department would coordinate with the Planning Commission and other federal institutions to arrange more resources for development projects of the province. The wing will also help departments concerned at the provincial level in preparing PC-I of proposed development projects.

Chief Secretary K. B. Rind informed the meeting that work on installation of desalination plants in coastal areas of Pasni, Gadani and Jewani had been started. He said the centre had provided funds for the project, adding that work on establishing a cadet college in Gwadar would be started soon.

The meeting was told that the federal government had released Rs50 million for development of the Lasbela district and work under the Kohlu package was in progress, which included establishing a cadet college, construction of roads and provision of education, health, drinking water and irrigation facilities in the remote district.

The federal government has also provided Rs148 million to Wapda for development of command areas of Subakzai and Mirani dams.

The meeting also reviewed the pace of work on the Hoshab-Surab road and cementing of water ponds and drains.

The meeting was told that the centre had also released funds for the Musakhal-Tonssa road and the project of broad-gage railway line between Quetta and Zhob was come under discussion.

Mr Rind said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had agreed to provide funds for rehabilitation of drought victims.

He said the prime minister would also provide Rs100 million to each district of Balochistan for small development schemes.

However, he said a serious notice of delay in completing a fly-over project and installing a desalination plant in the Gwadar Industrial Estate had been taken and authorities concerned had been directed to remove hurdles in completion of the projects.

He said the firm awarded the projects was bound to start work on the projects.

Mr Rind directed provincial secretaries to inform the government about problems being faced by their departments and submit suggestions for removing the bottlenecks. He also directed that timely completion of development projects should be ensured with the coordination of federal departments.

The meeting decided to take precautionary measures against the spread of dengue fever in the province.

Officials concerned told the meeting that no report of the decease had been received from any area of the province and the health department was monitoring the situation.