CHAGAI: Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has said the newly-elected Iranian president has announced opening of six more trade corridors along the Pakistan-Iran border in Balochistan.

He was speaking at a public meeting in his hometown of Nokkundi after arriving in Chagai on a two-day visit on Tuesday.

Speaking about his recent visit to Iran where he attended the oath-taking ceremony of President Ebrahim Raisi, Mr Sanjrani said that he informed the president of the desire of the Baloch living along the border to see more trade routes opened. The Iranian president accepted the proposal.

He said more job opportunities would be created after the opening of the trade corridors as the people living in the districts of Balochistan along the border were largely dependent on border trade.

He also said that the home minister of Balochistan and the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan would be approached to reopen the recently closed border trade corridor at Taftan.

Mr Sanjrani thanked the Iranian president for announcing the reopening of new trade corridors and termed the decision a good gesture.

Earlier, Mr Sanjrani was received by tribal elders, political figures and government officials on his arrival at Dalbandin airport.

The Senate chairman laid down the foundation-stone of 103-kilometre-long Nokkundi-Mashkel road and inaugurated the Ghat Water Supply Scheme before addressing the public gathering.

Talking about development projects, Mr Sanjrani said that roads would be constructed between Dalbandin and Ziarat Balanosh. Washuk would also be connec­ted with Gwadar a road.

“At the moment development projects worth Rs20 billion are being undertaken in Chagai and these projects would provide a lot of job opportunities to the masses in near future,” he said.

A modern Mineral Research University would also be constructed in Nokkundi area of Chagai, he said, adding that more development schemes worth Rs5bn would be included in the next Public Sector Development Programme.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2021