Resources of Balochistan to be utilised on its people: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Friday said that there is a huge potential needed to be explored in the mineral enriched province.

Addressing a press conference in Quetta, he said: “The resources of the province will be utilised on the welfare of the people of Balochistan.”

The PPP chairman said that the Balcohistan CM has chalked out ambitious agenda for bringing tangible reforms in various sectors, including health, education, youth skill development and women empowerment.

He noted that as per flagship programmes launched by the CM in the health sector, the provincial government has planned to constitute a state-of-the-art hospital on the pattern of Gambat Hospital and NIVCED.

Besides, he said the ‘Health on Wheels’ programme has been launched to provide health facilities in remote areas of Balochistan by extending services of Rescue 1122 to 10 districts of the province as first step towards quick health service delivery.

The PPP chairman recalled that the Balochistan government has been asked to expedite the compensation process initiated for the affectees of 2022 floods. “The housing project for those affected by the 2022 floods will be accelerated, he said, referring to a successful initiative launched in Sindh in this connection.

He said those who lost their houses in the calamity are the prime focus of PPP, and we have devised a strategy to construct homes and handover to the affectees on ownership basis. “These houses will be the assets of the flood affectees who could be the recipients of huge financial benefits once the process completes,” he remarked.

Bilawal expressed his desire to empower the women of Balochistan, promising that women would be provided interest-free loans to empower them financially. “We aim to empower women by providing them with interest-free loans because the PPP wants women to play a role in every sector,” he said.

He mentioned the plan is also being envisaged to establish a solar park through public-private partnership.

In response to a question, he said that whatever had been allocated for Balochistan in the budget, we hope it gets released now.

Meanwhile, Bilawal met with a delegation of labour leaders from Balochistan.

He directed immediate action to address the issues faced by Balochistan’s labourers.

The delegation was led by Haji Ramzan Achakzai, the Central Joint President of the All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions and the Wapda Labor Union.

During the meeting, the PPP chairman was given a detailed briefing on the issues faced by Balochistan’s laborers, especially miners.

Bilawal instructed the Balochistan chief minister to establish an effective mechanism to directly address and resolve the issues faced by labourers promptly and efficiently.

Separately, The PPP chairman met with the top 10 achievers of the Balochistan Intermediate Board, congratulating them on their outstanding performance and encouraging them to maintain their dedication and enthusiasm in their future endeavours. Bilawal personally commended Ayesha Ghazanfar, the top scorer, Sadia Tahir Kamran, who secured the second position, and Syeda Samreen Agha, the third-place achiever. He acknowledged the accomplishments of other high-achieving students, including Attaullah, Yasmeen Bibi, Fatima Mehboob, Qayyumuddin, Zubaida Bibi, Atiqa Niaz, Sanaullah, Atiqa Khan, Khansa Kakar, Asfandyar Khan, Karishma Devi and Mubashir Ahmed. In recognition of their hard work, Bilawal presented electric bikes to the top 10 students, highlighting the party’s commitment to supporting and motivating the youth of Balochistan. On this occasion, Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, Provincial Minister for Education Raheela Hameed Durrani and other leaders were also present.