QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has approved Rs55.6 million for immediate resolution of acute shortage of drinking water in and around Gwadar.

Mr Zehri took the decision on a summary sent by the Department of Public Health and Engineering, official sources said, adding that the Additional Chief Secretary for Planning and Development Nasibullah Bazai had submitted a report after visiting Gwadar last month.

Projects worth Rs27.803m had been initiated in Krwat with Rs6.65m approved for the supply of pumps and machinery for a desalination plant, and Rs21.15m for increasing the capacity of a boosting station in Mizani, the sources said. Mr Zehri had approved the projects to ensure early provision of drinking water.

The chief minister said the execution of the projects would be supervised by a committee led by the deputy commissioner of Gwadar.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2016