QUETTA, June, 16: Balochistan Chief Secretary K. B. Rind has said that the financial position of the province has improved to a greater extent as the federal government is providing huge funds for development to bring the province at par with other developed areas of the country.

In a briefing to newsmen here on Saturday, he expressed the hope that the provincial budget for the next financial year would be better one as a major chunk of the resources had been allocated for public sector development Programme (PSDP).

He said it was a happy augury that the provincial government was paying attention to complete the on-going schemes pending completion for the last five to 10 years. He said 1,500 schemes were under the same category and during the current financial year 200 such schemes had been completed while the target for the next fiscal year was 418.

Mr Rind informed that 153 post-graduates had been sent to different departments for internship under President’s programme for the current year. Similarly, 15 government officers belonging to Balochistan are among 66 officers of other provinces who have been selected for foreign training for capacity building of officials.

About the federal projects, Mr. Rind said that a Chilean-Canadian company was engaged in Rekodik Copper-Gold project in which Balochistan has 25 per cent shares, while Chinese are involved in developing zinc-lead deposits in Duddar (Lasbela district).

He said coal excavation had been started in Chamalung coalfield which remained closed for 27 years.

He said 12,000 people were provided employment. In addition to this, 6,000 persons were associated indirectly with the field. He said Rs1.3 billion have been earmarked for construction of a labour colony and a hospital for labourers.

Referring the road sector, he said work on Zhob-D.I. Khan project and Loralai-Makhthar-Punjab and Makhtar-Chamalung coal-field was in full swing, whereas Khuzdar-Shadadkot road would be completed next year.

He said old water distribution network in Quetta was being improved by replacing the old, rusted and damaged pipes while two dams are being built outside Quetta. He said that eight new cadet colleges would be built in different areas.

Additional chief secretary Qayyum Nazar Changezi, finance secretary Mahfooz Ali Khan and Secretary S&GDA Rana Naseer Ahmed were also present.