Southern Balochistan Development Plan progressing
ISLAMABAD, Jan.22(Gwadar Pro) - The Federal Government has accelerated the implementation of the Southern Balochistan Development Plan, which aims to uplift the population of the province's most underdeveloped region, including the Gwadar district.
The Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiative on Friday released a review report on the development package of southern Balochistan.
Under the Accelerated Development Plan, 199 projects with an estimated cost of Rs 601 billion in water, power & fuel, agriculture & livestock, IT, industries & commerce and human development areas are being executed in the nine most deprived districts of Southern Balochistan.
The nine districts include Gwadar, Washuk, Lasbela, Panjgur, Turbat/Kech, Khuzdar, Awaran, Kharan, and Chagai. Under the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan, southern Balochistan is included in those zones that need targeted interventions to upscale the economic activity for the betterment of the local people.
The Government under PSDP 2021-22, is implementing thirty projects with a total cost of Rs 135.5 billion in Transport, Water, Power & Fuel, Agriculture, Industries & Commerce, and Education sectors
Similarly, an amount of Rs 3.4 billion has been allocated for the upgradation of airports at Gwadar, Turbat and Khuzdar. The airports are being upgraded in accordance with international standards with extended runways.
These projects also include the construction of 168 km long Hoshab-Khuzdar Road and 114 km long Kharan-Basima Road.
Rs 3 billion has been allocated for digital connectivity in all nine districts. In this regard, an agreement has been reached between the Government and Ufone for district Kech.
Project of distance learning, with an amount of Rs 1.5 billion, is being implemented in southern Balochistan; programs of tele schools and radio schools have been launched.
The Government has allocated an amount of Rs 96 billion for the construction of 13 dams, flood mitigation, recharge of groundwater and provision of drinking water supplies to the local population. Work is underway to supply five million gallons of water daily to the Shadi Kaur Dam and 2.5 million gallons of potable water to the Swad Dam. CDWP has approved a project to provide 1.2 million gallons of water daily to Gwadar. An amount of Rs 18.7 billion has been allocated for the construction of Basol Dam, Gwadar.
The Government has also started installing solar kits and LPG for the local people and establishing a border market near the Pak-Iran border and other connectivity projects.
