QUETTA, July 2: Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani has said that the issue of promoting trade with Afghanistan and Iran will be take up with the federal government.

Speaking to members of the Balochistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Governor House here on Friday, Mr Ghani said the government was making all-out efforts for smooth trade activities in the province.

"The private sector should come forward and invest in Balochistan," the governor said and added the provincial government would provide all facilities and incentives to the investors.

He said Balochistan was situated at the international trade route and after the completion of Gwadar Deep Seaport it would gain more focus in the region. "The government is giving special attention to the promotion of trade in the province in view of its future's needs and requirements," Mr Ghani said, adding the government had launched various road and railway network projects in Balochistan for linking it with other regional countries.

The governor informed the businessmen that with the financial help and cooperation of the Asian Development Bank more roads would be constructed in the interior of Balochistan.

He said Gwadar would be linked with Quetta and other areas through road and rail network and later the railway line would be extended to Kandahar. "These projects would be completed in five years time," the governor said and added that with the completion of these road and railway projects regional trade with Balochistan would boost up.

The governor agreed with the BCCI members that there was a need to develop the livestock sector in Balochistan. Mr Ghani said that in this connection the Balochistan Veterinary Research Institute was being given the status of Centre of Excellence of Biotechnology and Vaccinalogy with the cooperation of the Education Commission.

"This project will help promote modern research in the field of vaccination and also develop the livestock sector." Regarding water shortage in the province, the governor said the government was introducing trickle irrigation system to over come this problem and in this connection an international company had set up its centre and started work on the project.

"Soft loans will be extended to those growers and zamindars who will adopt trickle irrigation system at their fields and orchards. It will save water for the time being." The governor said the government was setting up the Balochistan Water Resources Management Authority to look after all affairs relating to water resources.