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Balochistan’s development is govt’s priority: minister

* Sarwar says socio-economic projects underway, asks MMA to follow democratic norms

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Ghulam Sarwar Khan said on Friday that the completion of Balochistan mega projects was the government’s priority to bring the area on a par with other provinces.

“The government has taken numerous steps at the grassroots towards Balochistan’s development,” the federal minister said while addressing a news conference.

He said President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were giving due attention to the socio-economic development of Balochistan.

Sarwar Khan said the Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis had launched various projects in Balochistan, including an Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Girls College, a Labour Colony and a Kidney Centre in Quetta.

He said the OPF College project would be completed by June 2008 at a cost of Rs 50 million. “Balochistan government has provided three acres of land free of cost to the ministry for the college,” he added.

He said the college would provide education up to secondary level, besides O & A levels classes. “The college has a capacity of 800 to 1,000 students.” We will equip the college with modern facilities and will ensure quality education there, the minister said.

He said his ministry would set up six excellence centres in various part of the province to provide technical and vocational training to youth. “A Rs 193 million grant will soon be released for the project.” He said the Labour Ministry would construct a Balochistan Women University and a women’s hostel.

“We have also begun work on a Labour Colony in Balochistan to accommodate fishermen and workers of the Labour Ministry,” he said, “The project will be completed at a cost of Rs 50 million.”

About a Kidney Centre inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf, Sarwar Khan said the Labour and Manpower Ministry had established the centre at a cost of Rs385 million to provide free treatment to workers, adding that the Balochistan government had provided 7.5 acres of land for the centre. He said the centre consisted of 50 beds, a modern operation theatre, a laboratory and a cardiology unit, adding that Rs210 million had been allocated for the Kidney Centre.

Ghulam Sarwar Khan said over 700 Pakistani workers from Balochistan would be sent to South Korea after the ministry trained these people about Korean culture and language. “The government’s steps will bring a positive change in the living standards in Balochistan, which has been neglected in the past,” he added.

The minister welcomed the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s decision not to quit parliament, and said they (the MMA members) should wait till the next general elections.

“The MMA should follow democratic norms to strengthen the country’s solidarity.” staff report

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