QUETTA, April 28: The chief economist of Balochistan, Mr Mahuddin Marri, briefed a 24-member delegation of the visiting Northern Areas (Gilgit-Baltistan) newsmen about various development and conservation projects being undertaken by different NGOs and the Balochistan government, on Monday.

The journalists’ delegation comprised members of the Gilgit Association of Environmental Journalists, Gilgit Press Club, Skardu Press Club and Ghizer Press Club.

The team members visited Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency, Taraqi Foundation and Balochistan Planning and Development Department where they and officials of NGOs and Balochistan Government exchanged ideas and discussed problems and development avenues commonly shared by the people of both regions.

Mr Marri said that the province had been experiencing prolonged drought due to which the agriculture sector got a tremendous setback.

The Director-General of Balochistan Environment Protection Agency, Muhammad Jaleel, apprised the visiting journalists about the existing environmental issues of Balochistan and also informed about efforts to enact PEPA laws in the province.

He said the province had been facing deforestation of juniper trees, water contamination, noise and air pollution in Quetta metropolis which, he said, required community support and funds to end these problems.