GWADAR: Provincial Finance Minister Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi on Monday laid the foundation stone of a 150-bed hospital and a Pak-China Friendship Technical and Vocational Training Institute.

China has provided a grant of 240 million RMB (Chinese currency) for the construction of the hospital and 87 million RMB for the construction of the institute. The two projects would be completed within two years.

Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the two projects, Balochistan’s Finance Minister Zahoor Ahmed Buledi said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had opened doors of foreign investment in the country.

He said that China’s financial help for building of two projects showed its sincerity towards Pakistan and the people of Gwadar would benefit from these two important projects. He said that Pak-China friendship was based upon strong ties and these relations were getting stronger with the each passing day.

After completion of the projects started under the CPEC, the fate of the people of the area and region would change and they would enjoy fruits of development, he said, adding these projects would bring about prosperity in the region.

Mr Buledi said that the technical training centre project besides producing skilled manpower, would also provide employment opportunities to people in the province.

Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Consulate General Mr Wang said that China was taking great steps for development and prosperity of Gwadar.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2019