QUETTA, Oct 26: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will invest $40 million in the agriculture sector in Balochistan.

Under the programme, the UAE will set up a farm in the area irrigated by Mirani dam.

The decision was taken at a meeting between a seven-member delegation led by UAE Investment Minister Khadim Abdullah Aldari and Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani.

According to a handout, work on different projects under the accord will start next year and 12,000 people will get jobs.

The chief minister said efforts would be made to protect the investors.

The visiting minister said his country would also initiate other projects as well and take steps to provide education and health facilities to people of the province.

A meeting was informed that wheat, cotton, pulses and other crops would be grown at the farm to benefit local farmers.

A memorandum of understanding will be signed soon and the chief minister has approved the formation of a committee to finalise the modalities.