QUETTA, Dec 6: Minister of State for Production and Industries Hayatullah Durrani has said that small industrial zones will be set up in Gwadar and Bostan area of the Pishin district to create employment opportunities.

Talking to reporters at the press club on Saturday, he said unemployment and poverty were affecting people in Balochistan and other parts of the country and private investment could play a vital role in stabilising the economy. He said the government would launch a programme in the two industrial zones shortly. He asked the local Baloch and Pakhtun businessmen to invest in Gwadar and Bostan areas to encourage private investment.

Referring to the Indian charges that Pakistan was involved in the Mumbai terrorist attacks, Mr Durrani said Pakistan was fighting this menace with all its resources and, therefore, it cannot simply tolerate terrorism in any country.

In reply to a question regarding recent violence in Karachi, he said cooperation and mutual understanding between different political groups could help thwart the motives of criminals. He said the reconciliatory policy of President Asif Ali Zardari was aimed to bring together all political forces to curb violence in Karachi and other parts of the country.

Mr Durrani dispelled the impression that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was powerless and President Zardari took all important decision. He said the prime minister enjoyed all powers he had under the Constitution. However, he added, Mr Gilani consulted Mr Zardari on political issues in capacity as the co-chairman of the PPP.