Rs.140b projects to change Balochistan’s destiny: President
Bureau Report

QUETTA—President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday said that the mega projects being pursued by the Federal Government in Balochistan are moving towards their completion as scheduled and are set to begin an era of socio-economic advancement in the province in next few years.
He was addressing elected representatives from Balochistan, Provincial Ministers, notables, lawyers and intellectuals here at Governor’s House on Tuesday.
The President said that a total of Rs 140 billion are being spent on these projects. These included over 500 km long Kachhi canal to be completed by 2009 at a cost of over Rs 35 billion.
It will bring 0.7 million acres of virgin land under cultivation. The construction of Mirani and Sabakzai dams is also progressing according to the schedule. The Mirani dam will be ready by June/July next year and irrigate 34 thousand acres of land in Mekran.
Sabakzai dam will be completed by September 2006 and it will water 5-6 thousand acres of land in Zhob district, he said.
Referring to highway projects, he said Gawadar-Turbat-Hoshab-Basima road would be completed within next three years linking the Gawadar port with RCD and Indus highways.
Besides, Khuzdar Rato-Dero Road will also be completed in near future. Quetta-Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan road has become operational and after construction of thirteen bridges it will be suitable for smooth traffic.
He said Gwadar port will be ready by June 2006 as dredging is in progress up to 15 meters to allow berthing of container ships of fifty thousand tons.
International bidding will be invited to run the port on international standards, he stated.
An oil refinery will also be set up at Gawadar while a new airport would also be constructed there.
President Musharraf said he will inaugurate LPG supply station at Gwadar in January next. This facility will also be provided to Chaman, Zhob and Turbat very soon.
He said the use of Khojak Railway tunnel linking Chaman with Quetta for road traffic is under consideration.
The President called upon Nazmin and all segments of society to lend their hand to the government in maintaining law and order in the province which is necessary for continued development and progress.
He said that democratic process in the country is moving ahead satisfactorily.The assemblies will complete their terms and Pakistan will emerge as a democratic nation.
Speaking on the need for new water reservoirs, he said these are imperative to meeting fast-increasing energy requirements. President Musharraf noted that Balochistan and NWFP are not getting their due water share.
Balochistan will start getting its share after completion of Kachhi canal.
However, additional water would be available only when new big dams are constructed.
“Presently, there is a shortage of nine million acre feet of water which may increase up to 30 million acre feet by 2025.
“We need three new dams to meet with this shortage,” he stressed.
The president observed that unfortunately the issue has been politicized.
But the fact remains that if dams are not constructed all the provinces including Sindh will suffer, he added.
The President said he himself will talk to the people of Sindh to convince them about the necessity of new dams.
He asked the people of Balochistan to highlight the urgency of new dams in a loud and clear tone so that those opposing it should know that the province is not against construction of new dams.
Governor Balochistan Owais Ahmed Ghani, Chief Minister Jam Muhammed Yousuf, Federal Minister Zobaida Jalal, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Mir Nasir Mengal, Secretary General PML Mushahid Hussain Sayed were also present on the occasion.