QUETTA, Jan 4: The government is taking all possible measures to secure the Coastal Highway and the coastal areas of the province, says Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf.

He was speaking at a reception at the zero-point of the RCD Highway in Lasbela on Tuesday. He said that the provincial government would extend maximum incentives to investors in the coastal areas of Balochistan.

Referring to the construction of the Coastal Highway, he said that it was the path of economic development of the country, especially Balochistan. He said that industrial, trade and economic activities would be promoted on both sides of the highway.

The Chief Minister said that ample job opportunities would be available for the local people, adding that it would revolutionize the standard of the people's standard of life.

He said that the government would seek private sector's help to develop tourism industry in the province's coastal areas and that local people would also be allowed to invest in this field.

"We are providing technical training to youths in Gwadar and other coastal areas and enabling them to get jobs in the port and other industries in the future," Jam Yousuf said. He said that technical institutions were being established in these areas.

The chief minister said that the province was currently facing problems like terrorism which were impeding the development process. However, he said that the government was taking all possible steps for protecting the life and property of the people.

He said that the government was establishing check-posts, increasing patrolling on the Coastal Highway, opening new police stations in different areas of the province and deploying more personnel of law enforcement agencies as part of its bid to maintain law and order.

"Protection of life and property of the people and securing the interests of the province is one of the priorities of the government (and) the government will not make a compromise in this regard."