QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Monday that land was being provided to China for the construction of an international airport and setting up of an export processing zone in Gwadar.

Talking to reporters after the provincial assembly’s session, he denied reports suggesting that an accord had been signed with the Chinese government during the recent visit of Chinese ambassador to Quetta.

He said China would establish an export processing zone in Gwadar to make the deep seaport fully functional, adding that China would also build roads which would connect the airport with the export processing zone and other main roads.

The chief minister said that there was a proposal to set up a 300MW power plant in Gwadar to cater to the electricity needs of the port city.

Answering a question about the fresh spate of target killings and kidnappings in the province, Malik Baloch said measures were being taken to improve the security system. However, he added, the overall law and order situation in the province had improved to a great extent.

Expressing concern over the recent incidents of violence in the province, he said law-enforcement agencies were conducting raids and hopefully people involved in such acts would soon be arrested.

He said he had held meetings with the inspector general of police and the capital city police officer to review security situation in Quetta and other areas of the province.

“Law-enforcement agencies have conducted raids at different places and have taken some suspects into custody. It is the responsibility of the government to protect life and property of citizens and his government is trying to fulfil its obligations in this regard.”

“Around 200 motorcycles have been provided to police for patrolling in Quetta,” he said.

Answering a question about the ‘Murree Accord’ his National Party had signed with PML-N and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Malik Baloch said his party had already issued a policy statement in this regard.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2015