QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri has expressed strong resentment over the slow pace of work on a package meant to improve civic amenities and other services in district headquarters.

During a meeting held here on Tuesday, he specifically expressed his anger on delay in implementation on a development package for Balochistan’s rural areas. He directed officials concerned to remove all bottlenecks in the way of the scheme.

The chief minister directed the additional chief secretary for planning and development and the finance secretary to issue necessary guidelines to commissioners and deputy commissioners for early implementing the schemes announced by the government in the budget. If they were facing financial crunch or other difficulties, all such impediments should be removed, he added.

Mr Zehri sought a report on the Division and District Development Package with a specific purpose to know progress on the project.

The main purpose of the package is to extend civic services and amenities to people in remote districts of the province. A substantial allocation of funds has been made for it.

According to sources, the chief minister said that after completion of the census in the country he would issue a formal notification for making Sikandarabad (Surab) a district.

He said with the status of a district Surab would be developed at a much faster pace, adding that facilities would be provided to it and job and business opportunities would be created for its people.

A delegation of people from Surab held a meeting with the chief minister and apprised him about problems faced by the town. Haji Maula Bakhsh, Dr Abdul Wahid Mirani, Mir Ahmed Reki, Ghulam Rasool Umrani, some municipal councillors from the town and tribal elders were included in the delegation.

The delegates informed the chief minister about problems of the town.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2017