QUETTA, Sept 22: Work on the Dudhar Zinc project, a joint venture of Balochistan and China, has been expedited and is expected to be completed in time.

A meeting, presided over by Balochistan chief secretary K.B. Rind, on Saturday reviewed progress on the project. A Chinese company in collaboration with the provincial government is working on the project in Lasbela district.

A senior representative of the company informed the meeting that efforts were under way to complete the project in time. He also informed the meeting about security problems and sought protection of Chinese engineers and other staff working on the project site.

The chief secretary directed the authorities concerned to provide maximum security to engineers and other workers. He informed the meeting that the provincial government had already taken strict security measures for providing security to the Chinese engineers.

He said Pakistan people had great respect for their Chinese brothers who were playing a vital role in the development of the country, especially Balochistan. Mr Rind said the Dudhar Zinc project would bring prosperity to the province and its people. He said it would also create job opportunities for the people of Lasbela district.

He said the Balochistan government was making all-out efforts for the development and exploration of mineral resources in the province and was encouraging local and foreign companies to invest in this sector.

“The provincial government is providing maximum incentives and facilities to local and foreign investors in mineral and other sectors,” Mr Rind said, adding that many foreign companies had shown interest in the mineral sector.

He said Balochistan had great potential for investment in various sectors. Inspector General Police Balochistan Tariq Masood Khosa informed the meeting about the security measures taken for the protection of Chinese engineers and other staff working on the project.