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QUETTA, Feb 25 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday inaugurated a number of development projects here, aimed at bringing about a positive change in the socio-economic life of the people. President Zardari said under the 39-point socio-economic Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package the province was being given top priority and Rs 83 billion had been allocated per annum for poverty alleviation and development.
He said the province would also get Rs 120 billion payment in rights for the natural gas reserves, while the ownership rights of the Saindak project have also been transferred to it.
The President inaugurated the 180 meter long Lakpass Tunnel that has been completed with an amount of Rs. 921 million.
Chairman National Highway Authority Chaudhry Altaf informed the President that Lakpass Tunnel, located about 27 kilometers south of Quetta, is the shortest route connecting the provincial capital to Iran through N-40 and Karachi through N-25.
He said ,â€the tunnel now facilitates the commuters with provision of safe and efficient route with elimination of curves, reduction of travel time, vehicle operating cost and accidents and decreases the transportation time from farm to marketâ€.
The President also inaugurated 50 kilometers long Kanozai-Muslim Bagh Section N-50, which has been completed at a cost of Rs. 1169.407 million. He also inaugurated the 50 kilometers long Muslim Bagh-Qila Saifullah Road Project N-50, completed with an amount of Rs. 1667.191 million.
President Zardari also inaugurated 132KV Gawadar-Industrial Grid Station, which is located at a distance of about 40 kilometers from Gawadar towards Pasni on Coastal Highway.
Managing Director PEPCO Tahir Basharat Cheema informed the President that the project has been completed with an amount of Rs. 165 million on the directives of the federal government because of non-availability of electricity in the area.
The project after the completion of grid station will not only help flourish the industry in the area, but will also provide employment opportunity and socio economic uplift of the dwellers.
The President also inaugurated 132 KV Hurmzai Grid Station, which was completed at a cost of Rs. 300 million.
The President was informed that Hurmzai is located at a distance of about 50 kilometers from Quetta in the jurisdiction of district Pishin towards Chaman.
He was informed that the area was agriculture dominated and was getting power supply from 66 KV Alizai and 132 KV Yaru and Pishin Grid Stations. However due to lengthy 11 KV Feeders and over loading of 132 KV and 66KV network, the consumers of the area were facing acute low voltage problems and frequent outages.
With the completion of 132 KV Grid Station in Hurmzai, the President was informed that the people of the area will now be facilitated with improved voltages and power stability.
President Zardari also performed the ground-breaking of the 150 km Qila Saifullah-Zhob Road.
The Chairman National Highway Authority informed the President that the project is part of Global PC-1 for NHSP approved by ECNEC on January 21, 2010.
The President was informed that NHA Executive Board has already approved award of works for this project to M/s LIMAK International+ZKB (JV) for Rs. 8350 million and the project will be completed within three years after commencement of work at the site.
President Zardari earlier also chaired a meeting to review development projects in the province.
He said there would be no cut in the development funds and directed that the process of award of projects be expedited so that the people can benefit from the projects.
He said that “we have the political will and the federal government is committed to address the issues and resolve the problems of the people of Balochistanâ€.
The President was briefed about the socio economic status and the economic potential of the province, Federal and Provincial PSDP 2009-2010 and Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan Package.
He was informed that under the Provincial PSDP 2009-2010, an amount of Rs. 18536.322 million has been allocated which included 13429.109 million local and Rs. 5107.213 million under FPA.
The amount is being utilized for completion of 349 ongoing development schemes and 293 new development schemes of roads, education, health, water supply and public health engineering sectors.
The President was informed that under Balochistan Project in Federal PSDP 2009-2010, 262 projects are being implemented with an amount of Rs. 48.9 billion, which included 223 Balochistan Specific Projects with Rs. 43.1 billion and 39 Umbrella Projects with Rs. 5.8 billion.
Under the Balochistan Specific Projects, Rs. 8.5 billion have been allocated for NHA Roads, Rs. 14.9 billion for water sector projects including construction of dams and delay action dams, extension of Patfeeder Canal, and Kachi Canal, Rs. 3.7 billion for power supply projects, Rs. 2.5 billion for education projects, Rs. 1.9 billion for law and order and Rs. 1.1 billion for Gawadar projects.
About Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan, the President was informed that it will be the major reconciliation efforts by the federal government, which included 20,000 jobs for unemployed graduates, special quota for scholarships by Higher Education Commission, start of mega project with the consent of the Government of Balochistan and due share in profits, technical training to local youth in Gawadar and absorption in GPA, GDA, and special economic zone.
It was informed that the portion of revenue collected by GPA will be allocated to the development of Balochistan while a special package for the development of Sui will be developed.
It was informed that the federal government will give 20 percent to Balochistan from its share in the Saindak Project and special incentives will be given to local tribes in Kohlu to facilitate exploration.
Among others, Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi, Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani, Federal Ministers Qamar Zaman Kaira, Raja Parvaiz Ashraf, Ayatullah Durrani, Arbab Alamgir, Rehmatullah Kakar, Mir Israrullah Zehri and provincial ministers were also present on the occasion.
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