QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has dispelled a perception about perceived threats to investment in the province posed by law and order situation and expressed his government’s resolve to protect investment and investors.

He said that the strategy adopted by the government had resulted in a considerable improvement in law and order situation in the province over the past two years.

He was talking to Secretary of Prime Minister’s Office and Board of Investment Syed Iftikhar Hussain Babar at a meeting here on Monday. Managing Director of Balochistan Investment Board Lal Jan Jaffar, Finance Secretary Mushtaq Raisani and Industry Secretary Fateh Mohammad Bhangar also attended the meeting.

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The chief minister said that Balochistan had immense potential in investment in mining and minerals, agriculture, livestock, fisheries and other sectors. “The provincial government will protect investors and provide incentives to them if they invest in the sectors,” he said.

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He said that the port city of Gwadar offered a lot of opportunities for investment.

Dr Baloch said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would usher in a new era of development in Balochistan. He asked the federal government to inform local and foreign investors about improving law and order situation and investment potential in Balochistan.

He said local and foreign investment could help in eliminating sense of deprivation and poverty from the province.

The federal secretary for the BoI said that a joint campaign by the federal and provincial authorities was needed to attract investment in Balochistan.

Earlier speaking at a meeting of the provincial secretaries and senior officials, he said that about 1,000 multinational companies were running their businesses in the country due to cheap labour and raw material and investment-friendly environment.

He said that the federal government was extending cooperation to investors.

He urged the Balochistan government to adopt investment-friendly policies and provide required facilities to investors.

He asked investors and traders to invest in mines and minerals, fisheries, livestock, and date and fruit processing sectors in the province. The Board of Investment was ready to provide professional training in the sectors to investors, he added.

Mr Babar said that an improvement in law and order situation would boost investment in the province.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2015

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