QUETTA: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday emphasised the need to counter terrorism by defeating its narrative and underscored the importance of restoring peace and political stability in Balochistan through grassroots political processes.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari made these remarks during a meeting at the Chief Minister Secretariat after he arrived in Quetta on a two-day visit.

The meeting was attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, provincial ministers, the chief secretary, and the inspector general of police.

The PPP chairman urged the provincial government to expedite the compensation process for those affected by the 2022 floods. “The housing project for the flood-affected should be accelerated. Every possible step should be taken to assist the calamity-stricken people of Balochistan and Sindh,” he stated.

Urges Balochistan govt to speed up work on housing project for flood victims

He praised the development of Balochistan’s first youth policy, stressing that its implementation was crucial to provide the youth with more opportunities.

During the briefing, Mr Bhutto-Zardari was briefed on several flagship programmes in Balochistan, including the Benazir Bhutto Scholarship Programme, People’s Air Ambulance, and People’s Green Bus Service. Other initiatives mentioned were the establishment of the NICVD and the Gambat Institute of Liver Transplant in Quetta, the Skilled Workers Card Programme, and the Rescue 1122 Service.

A new project to convert over 30,000 agricultural tube wells to solar energy has commenced, and subsidies for tractors will be provided to support Balochistan’s farmers. Besides, Rs10 billion has been allocated for a new phase of the Kachhi Canal project from the Indus River, and Rs4bn for interest-free loans to unemployed graduates.

Under the Youth Skills Development Programme, around 30,000 young people will be trained over two years and provided employment opportunities abroad.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2024