ISLAMABAD: Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai on Wednesday held a meeting with Foreign Affairs Committee of Belgian Parliament President Dirk Van der Maelen and briefed him about the latest developments in Balochistan province.
According to reports, Governor Achakzai informed Dirk Van der Maelen that the consolidation of democratic process in Pakistan has contributed positively towards ensuring peace and socio-economic development in Balochistan.
Talking about improvement in the security situation of Balochistan, the governor said that law and order had been restored and terrorism related incidents have witnessed a considerable decline in the province.
While referring to social sector developments in recent years, the governor said that shortly after elections in 2013, the government unveiled Balochistan Education Sector Plan 2013-18 followed by the Compulsory Education Act passed in 2014.
Achakzai also said, “Balochistan is preparing itself to become a hub of economic activity and connectivity in the near future.”
The governor stated that Gwadar can become a key transit and trans-shipment hub in the entire region. “It is expected that once fully operationalized, Gwadar port will create more than 40,000 jobs. In addition to that, industrial zones are proposed for major cities of Balochistan, including in Quetta, Khuzdar, Gwadar, Uthal, Hub and Dera Murad Jamali. Special economic zones for mining are proposed for Khuzdar, Chaghi, Qilla Saifullah, Saindak, Reko Diq, Qalat and Lasbela.”
Moreover, Achakzai said that progress in cooperation with the European Union (EU) was satisfactory. He supported his claim by saying that the EU in partnership with Balochistan has chalked out a six-year Balochistan Rural Development and Community Empowerment Programme to reduce the negative impact of economic deprivation, poverty, environmental degradation and climate change.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg Naghmana Hashmi also attended the meeting. MEP Sajjad Karim who is also Chair of Pakistan Friendship Group in European Parliament hosted a luncheon meeting for the governor at the European Parliament which was attended by a large number of parliamentarians.