QUETTA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved on Thursday a plan to make Balochistan completely peaceful and take measures to ensure flawless security for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Presiding over a meeting of the Apex Committee, the prime minister reviewed progress of implementation of the National Action Plan and said the law and order situation in Balochistan had improved satisfactorily because of joint civil and military efforts.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali, Balochistan Governor Mohammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Minister for Saffron retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch, Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif, Commander Southern Command Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjua, provincial Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattha, Home Secretary retired Capt Akbar Hussain Durrani, Inspector General of Frontier Corps, Balochistan, Maj Gen Sher Afgan and IG Police Mohammad Amlish attended the meeting.

Mr Sharif was briefed on the security situation and measures taken by the federal and provincial governments, armed forces and law-enforcement agencies for maintaining peace in Balochistan.

According to official sources, the meeting was informed that there was a remarkable decline in incidents of terrorism and heinous crimes.

Civil and military officials submitted a security plan which focused on providing complete security to the CPEC and projects related to it and restoring lasting peace in the province.

The prime minister said that Balochistan had a bright future and it would be the main beneficiary of CPEC projects. The infrastructure and communication network would be developed for effective use of resources of Balochistan. Gwadar Port would be connected with Central Asian states through rail and roads, he said.

He directed the authorities concerned to prepare a plan for developing the port and the city as an economic hub. He ordered them to reach out to the people to make them partners in the development process.

The prime minister approved a ‘Pur-amn Balochistan’ plan for bringing the angry Balochs back into the national mainstream.

He expressed satisfaction over the unanimous approach of all stakeholders on national issues and said that it would take the country forward.

He said the economic turnaround in the country was being acknowledged by international financial institutions which were now ready to work with Pakistan.

Earlier, the prime minister laid the foundation stone of Mangi Dam, the Balochistan Agriculture University and Samungli Road Flyover and inaugurated the Sariab Phatak Flyover in Quetta.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2015

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