QUETTA: Fifteen development projects, including a Green Bus Service for Quetta, will be launched under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode in the province, the Balochistan Public Private Partnership (BPPP) Board decided on Thursday.

At the first BPPP Board meeting, Balochistan Chief Minister, Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo gave his approval of the Balochistan Public Private Partnership Act. The Authority Rules 2022 were also approved in the meeting.

It was decided to initially launch 15 development projects under the PPP mode. Apart from the bus service for the provincial capital, other projects include a seven million gallon per day solar desalination plant in Gwadar, development of the Hub Special Economic Zone; and 100 MW solar parks in Hub.

The PPP mode would have 12 members, including three members from the private sector.

BPPP Unit Managing Director Dr Noor Muhammad said the development and functioning of the Bostan Special Economic Zone is also included in the 15 suggested projects, which would be implemented initially under the PPP mode along with some other projects.

Dr. Muhammad stated that passing the BPPP Act was a privilege of the current government.”The partnership between the government and the private sector is being promoted under PPP across the world and steps will be taken soon in this regard,” he added.

CM Bezenjo said that with the promotion of PPP in Balochistan, investors from all over the world will be attracted to Balochistan for investment in different sectors. He stated that development goals cannot be met unless Balochistan moves toward self-sufficiency, and that PPP will play an important role in paving the way for the province to achieve self-sufficiency.

“To achieve self-reliance, development of own resources and promotion of investment are necessary,” the CM said, adding that unfortunately, in the past, no attention was paid towards the concept of self-reliance.

He said that it was the first government in the province to turn its attention towards the resource development and their utilisation for the development and prosperity of Balochistan. “To promote investment, the government policy should be made more comprehensive,” he said and added that by giving all kinds of facilities and incentives to the investors, their confidence will be firm and the Reko Diq Agreement is an important step towards inviting investment in Balochistan and it will attract foreign investors for investment in the province.

The Parliamentary Secretary on Services and General Administration Bushra Rind, Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Uqaili, Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Hafiz Abdul Basit, Secretary Law Akbar Harifal, Chairman Balochistan Board of Inves­tment and Trade Saeed Ahmed Sarparah, and PPP Executive Officer Rafiullah Kakar attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2022