QUETTA - Federal Minister for Development and Planning Ahsan Iqbal terming Gwadar Port an important port of the region has said government is planning for sustainable development in Makran.
“We want peace in Balochistan, the murder of professionals and teachers is not in the interest of the province,” he asserted this while talking to journalists in Gwadar, the port city of Balochistan, on Thursday.
Federal minister said that Balochistan is rich in mineral resources but regretted no proper planning was made to utilise these resources appropriately , thus the beautiful region of Balochistan is confronting with backwardness and deprivation. “Our government had devised a master plan for universal development of Makran from 1997 to 1999 which was aimed at to pave way for development of Makran,” PML-N leader said, adding that the successive governments instead of continuing the projects neglected them. He said that it was PML-N’s government which had given the Gwadar Port project.
Federal minister said that incumbent government had adopted a policy of comprehensive development strategy throughout the country till 2025. “We are committed to make Gwadar Port an exemplary harbour which would be the hub of economical development and the Kashgar to Gwadar Corridor Project is a part of this development,” he added.
He vowed that the Gwadar Port would be made functional and the days are not far when the international trade would be started from Gwadar which would not only become a unique project of prosperity in the region but it would also change the fate of the country.
Iqbal said that PML-N did not believe in rhetoric and a democratic era had been commenced in Pakistan as democracy is the name of rule by people and we would work in accordance with the wishes of the masses.
He stressed upon the local people to focus on education since the challenges of 21st century could not be tackled through guns and explosives but intuition and vision are the secret of development of the nations.
“Those who are engaged in armed struggle come on dialogue,” he asked.
Terming Sardar Akthar Mengal’s oath taking as the member of assembly a welcome move, PML-N leader said that the inclusion of Mengal in national mainstream is in the interest of Balochistan. “Handing government to nationalists in Balochistan is aimed at to improve the situation in the province,” he added.
He said that federal government wanted to redress injustices meted out to Balochistan, adding that the murder of professionals hailing from different segments of life is not in the interest of the people of the province.