QUETTA: Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri has said although Balochistan is undervalued as a province, it is rich in resources and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has added to its importance.

He expressed theses views while talking to President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan here on Wednesday.

Mr Zehri said political insurgency and instability in the region was tackled by the leadership and the army, adding that religious extremism would be eliminated soon as well.

He said Gwadar had become a safe and secure place due to the efforts of the provincial government and security forces.

Echoing Mr Zehri’s views, the AJK president said Balochistan gained more significance with CPEC and the province — rich in minerals, gems, and agriculture and sea food — would gain maximum profit from the project.

He said that only two projects of Azad Kashmir were part of the Joint Cooperation Committee on CPEC’s meeting while 12 projects were included for Balochistan.

Mr Zehri said unfortunately in the past Balochistan was not given importance in terms of development which developed a sense of deprivation among the masses.

He said that anti-state elements capitalised on neglect to further their agenda, adding that as per the statistics as many as five to six bomb blasts took place in Balochistan in 2013 in addition to incidents of kidnapping for ransom.

The chief minister said that his government faced all the challenges with courage and determination, adding that their efforts resulted in peace and prosperity in Balochistan.

Published in Dawn January 19th, 2017