https://ift.tt/eHvgow7 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reiterated the government’s resolve to develop the Gwadar seaport as one of the best in the world. He said that the fate of the people of Balochistan, especially of Gwadar, would be changed through the ongoing development operation in the province. Addressing a laptop and cheques distribution ceremony in Gwadar, he said that when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif was elected prime minister for the third time in 2013, he planned and launched multiple projects in power, infrastructure, and other sectors in Gwadar. However, he deplored that when he visited as prime minister last year, he was shocked to note that the previous government had abandoned work on all ongoing projects in the city. Read more: Gwadar Intl Airport to be inaugurated He said that despite 15 months of challenges, the coalition government managed to lay the foundation of development and prosperity in the country, especially in Balochistan. The province, he said, was rich in minerals and other natural resources which need to be explored and the fruits of the development of the area given to the local people. The local people must enjoy all the basic facilities in all sectors including health and education, he added. The premier said that the draft of the Gwadar port was one the deepest among the world’s top ports, however, dredging of the port which was a continuous process to prevent accumulating silt, was not ensured by the previous government. Now, he informed, the current government initiated the dredging process which would be completed by February next year. He said that in five years from 2017 to 2022, only 100,000 tonnes of goods could arrive here while goods of over 600,000 tonnes arrived at the port during the 15 months of the incumbent government. The prime minister announced that the laptop quota for Balochistan had now been increased to 14 per cent against the 6 per cent population share of the province. He also directed the relevant authorities to further increase the laptop quota to 18% for next fiscal year. PM Shehbaz said that default risk for Pakistan had been averted due to support from the brotherly countries like China, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Yesterday, he said, China’s Exim bank had rolled over loan of another $2.4 billion for the next two years. He made it clear that all the support from the friendly countries was totally unconditional as no country had placed any condition in return for the loan relief. He also directed the relevant authorities to put the security of the foreigners on top priority. Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Faisal Sabzwari said that under the leadership of PM Shehbaz, numerous welfare and development projects were being launched to uplift of the people of the province. For the social uplift of the poor fishermen, he said that the prime minister had distributed cheques to 3,250 small fishermen amounting to Rs250,000 per head. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Shaza Fatima Khawaja said over one million laptops had been delivered since the launch of the laptop scheme by Shehbaz Sharif as Punjab chief minister. She said that as per the new laptop quota, some 14,000 talented students of Balochistan would receive laptops this year. Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Balochistan Governor, provincial ministers and top government officials were also present on the occasion.
from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/oY2Ojwl
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