QUETTA: Balochistan Governor Syed Zahoor Ahmad Agha has said the customs department has a key role to play in boosting and stabilising the economy at both national and provincial levels.

He said this during a meeting with Chief Collector of Customs for Balochistan Muhammad Sadiq at the Governor House on Friday. They discussed border trade with neighbouring countries, establishment of border markets, problems and difficulties of the local business community and facilities provided by the government.

Mr Agha said Balochistan could provide a lucrative route to Central Asia geographically and, therefore, it was important to take advantage of economic and trade opportunities with Central Asian states.

He said the provincial business community had been the hardest-hit after the closure of business centres and border trade due to the global Covid-19 epidemic.

It was the government’s responsibility to fully revive trade and business activity and provide local traders with access to neighbouring countries, he said.

The governor said that with the completion of various industrial zones in Balochistan, there would be ample employment opportunities in the province, besides those for import and export.

“We have a lot of resources and minerals. We need to develop a comprehensive strategy for the proper use of available resources,” he said, adding that the country could improve the exchange rate by setting up fishery units of international standard in the province.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2022