KHUZDAR: The federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal, said on Thursday that development in Balochistan was the top priority of the government and it had launched several development projects in the last three years in the province.

Addressing a ceremony at the Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology, he announced a project worth Rs 800 million for building a hostel and laboratory on the university campus.

The government had allocated record funds for universities in Balochistan and was establishing new universities in less-developed areas of the province to expand the higher education network. The establishment of universities in Turbat, Zhob and Gwadar would provide opportunities to the local population, he added.

“The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a national project and politics on this will be an injustice to the people of Pakistan,’’ the minister said, adding that the government was committed to completing the projects that fell under the framework of CPEC.

He said that CPEC would benefit the less privileged areas of Pakistan. It would connect Pakistan with the world and open avenues for cooperation for the people, communities and states across the region. No one will be allowed to sabotage this project, he added.

The energy projects under CPEC would help overcome energy crisis by 2018 as $35 billion would be spent in the sector. Out of the $35bn, $11bn would be spent in Sindh while $9bn would be allocated to Balochistan, said Mr Iqbal, adding that the Gwadar-Quetta road would be completed by December this year and the Gwadar -Khuzdar-Ratodero road would be completed in the stipulated time.

Mr Iqbal, who was on a three-day visit to Balochistan, chaired a meeting in Ziarat to review work on projects that formed a part of the prime minister’s fund for the development of Ziarat. A master plan would be formulated for an integrated development of infrastructure, he said.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2016