QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Wednesday launched a number of projects in horticulture, livestock and tourism sectors, aimed at improving their production and quality to the international standards.

According to provincial planning and development department sources, the government has launched a project worth Rs50 million, under which apple-grading and packaging facilities would be established in Ziarat and Kalat districts.

The province is famous for its best quality apple crops, but unfortunately its major chunk goes in waste due to the absence of facilities.

Establishment of these facilities will help growers export their yield to major fruits markets which will help improve their economic conditions and contribute to the provincial exchequer.

Similarly, a date process and packaging unit is being set up in Makran region where best varieties of dates are produced.

This unit is being established at a cost of Rs50m which after completion will pave the way for Makran dates to have place in the markets of the country, sources said.

Pakistan annually spends a huge foreign exchange on importing dates which would not only be saved, but would also make a positive impact on economy of dates grower from the province.

The provincial government has also launched work on establishing tomato paste plant at cost of Rs50m which on completion will decrease wastage of tomato crops in the province to a considerable extent.

Besides, an olive production project has also been launched at a cost of Rs70m to motivate growers in arid and semi-arid areas of the province to grow this least water consuming crop in their field instead of high-water consuming crop.

Published in Dawn, May 21th, 2015

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