QUETTA: The meeting of a resource committee has reviewed economic challenges arising out of the lockdown imposed in Balochistan to contain coronavirus.

The meeting was presided over by Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani and attended by representatives of donor agencies and NGOs (non-governmental organisations). They discussed the province’s economic challenges and tried to find ways to mitigate their negative impact on the people. Mr Alyani said that the lockdown would increase economic woes of the people as it could cause unemployment and poverty in the province.

“The province has to bare economic challenges by next five to six years as the coronavirus pandemic has halted provincial economic growth,” he chief minister said.

He said the provincial government was trying to make policies with the support of donor agencies and through public-private partnership projects for creating economic opportunities.

Coordinator to Resource Committee Imran Gichki submitted a progress report regarding the response of NGOs and donor partners.

According to the report, the World Food Programme has expressed willingness to support the Balochistan government in its efforts for providing relief to poor people, including distribution of ration.

“Many private companies have assured their assistance in uplifting provincial fisheries, livestock and agriculture sectors,” Mr Gichki informed the meeting.

Briefing the chief minister on NGOs working in Balochistan, Mr Gichki said there were 25 NGOs in the Balochistan Development Network while 1,420 NGOs are registered under the network of the provincial social welfare department. It was decided at the meeting that a video conference would be conducted between CM Alyani and representatives of European Union, agencies of the United Nations and international NGOs in order to seek their support for coping with the challenges of coronavirus-related economic challenges. The chief minister said Balochistan provided opportunities of investment in livestock, agriculture and fisheries sectors, adding that investment in these sectors would help in averting future’s economic woes of the province.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2020