QUETTA: The Balochistan cabinet on Monday unanimously approved the provincial Mines and Mineral Development Policy.

Briefing the cabinet meeting presided over by the Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, Secretary Mines Zahid Saleem said that this is for the first time in the history of Balochistan that a provincial government had finalised a minerals policy. Under this policy the sector’s capacity would be enhanced and collective interest of the province and locals working in the mining industry would be protected, he said.

Secretary Finance Noor-ul-Haq said reforms in education, health and other sectors would be the priority of the provincial government in the upcoming budget. New development programme would be embarked in order to prepare manpower for industries and projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said, stressing that this would be an “awami budget with awami priorities” which will prove to be historical.

The secretary finance said the government has decided to provide technical training to youth in Balochistan through Mobile Training Units. Social Sector Protection and Youth Development Programme in the province were also announced along with the introduction of the amended Finance Bill 2019.

The cabinet vowed to take opposition parties into confidence regarding new policies in order to start implementation.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2019