QUETTA, Jan 11: The British Minister of State for External Affairs and Commonwealth, Mr Douglas Alexander has said that more investors from UK would visit Gwadar and other areas of Balochistan to explore investment prospects.

He said this during formal talks with Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf here on Tuesday in which they discussed various issues relating to the development of the province and matter of common interest.

The British Minister of State appreciated the steps of the provincial government it had taken for the developing different sectors and making the basic infrastructure stronger.

He shown keen interest in the possibility of investment in various fields in Balochistan, and said that two trade missions had already visited Pakistan last year for exploring the possibility of investment in the country.

"We will arrange more visits of investors from UK to see the possibilities of the investment in Gwadar and other areas of Balochistan," Mr Douglas Alexander said and added that these visits would definitely increase British investment in the province.

The British Minister of State said that his country would extend full help and assistance for the development in health, education and social sectors under its aid programme for foreign countries. He said that he would see the possibilities of more cooperation in these sectors during his recent visit to Pakistan.

He lauded the efforts of the provincial government for stopping cultivation of poppy crop and drugs smuggling and urged launching a programme for disgorging the cultivation of poppy and attracting the growers to change the crop pattern. He said that British government provides assistance for this programme.

The Chief Minister Jam Yousuf informed the visiting British Minister about the steps for providing strong infrastructure in the province and ongoing development projects for the uplift of Balochistan.