QUETTA, May 24: The area around the Chamalang coal mine is emerging as a new township having most civic facilities. Thousands of workers are arriving in the area after mining was resumed recently.

Balochistan’s Chief Secretary K.B. Rind said this while talking to newsmen during his visit to the coal mines on Wednesday. He was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding, Maj-Gen Mohammad Farooq, Inspector-General of Police Tariq Masood Khosa, Brig Saqib Anjum, Brig Nazir Ahmed, and several provincial secretaries.

He said that provision of “maximum facilities” in the Chamalang area was like setting up a new city in Balochistan.

Highlighting changes in rules and regulations, he said that it had been necessary to keep the rapid pace of development unchanged, adding that it was in the people’s larger interest. Praising the army’s help in developing the mine, he said that such rapid development would have been impossible without the army’s help.

Highlighting restoration of peace in the area and other confidence-building measures, Maj-Gen Farooq said that this year alone, the number of job opportunities in the area would increase from 10,000 to 50,000.

He said that after the start of mining, the army had sent 303 children from Kohlu to army public schools in Sindh and Punjab, adding that 90 more students would be sent soon. He said that another batch of 600 students would be selected and by June, the number of students would rise to 1,000.

“Local tribes and the government are cooperating to remove all hurdles in the way of development in the Marri area,” he said.

Tribal leaders of Luni and Marri tribes and representatives of mine contractors praised the army’s efforts.