Daily Times

GWADAR/SIBI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said that prosperity in Balochistan was the ultimate destination, but said the course was “coarse”.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a 174-kilometer road connecting Sibi with Kohlu, the premier said that some anti-state elements were green-eyed over the ongoing development process in the province.

“The prosperity of Balochistan is our destination. The course is coarse. Though many others had also claimed of Balochistan’s development in the past but never thought to pave [the] way to reach this destination,” he said.

The premier said the goal of progress could not be achieved without infrastructure development and that was why construction of roads was his government’s top priority.

The previous governments, he said, either did not think of developing roads or showed blithe concern for their completion.

He viewed that before investing their capital, the investors first questioned as to how they would transport their products to local or international markets, adding that in the absence of road infrastructure, they could not be convinced.

He said the government was determined to develop road infrastructure across the country, particularly the areas where there was no concept of roads.

“We have broken the back of terrorists. The internal and foreign forces disrupting peace in Balochistan have been exposed,” he said, paying tribute to the services and sacrifices of the armed forces to foil the nefarious designs of the enemy.

He said the time had come when the people of Balochistan were getting their usurped rights.

Earlier, the people of Sibi had to travel through DI Khan and Lora Lai to reach Kohlu, and now the distance had shrunk to 174 kilometres from 600 kilometres, he added.

He said the project would not only facilitate the people of far-flung areas but also help the businessmen transport their products.

Executed by the National Logistics Cell (NLC), the road is the shortest link between Balochistan and Punjab. As suggested by NLC Director General Major General Mushtaq Ahmed Faisal, the prime minister directed the Balochistan chief minister to develop schools and dispensaries or hospitals in the area.

He announced the construction of a 20-kilometre road between Sibi and Talli and 80-kilometre road linking Kohlu with Rakhni.

Mentioning his visit to Gwadar earlier in the day, he said he was pleased over the development going on there, and reiterated that Gwadar would be developed as the best city of the country.

The development in Gwadar, he added, would have a countrywide impact and Balochistan’s backward and far-flung areas would be linked with main highways.

Nawaz Sharif said he was personally overseeing the development projects in Balochistan to ensure their timely completion so that the people could get benefit from the mineral resources; thus, enhancing the country’s exports.

He said roads were a source to enhance national unity, besides bringing the people closer to one another.

He said besides taking steps to alleviate poverty, the government desired that the whole nation should get equal opportunities of development.

He said that after completion of the Gwadar Port and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), investors from across the world would turn up to Pakistan and the enemies would only get disappointment.

The prime minister also congratulated the NLC team for completing the project and lauded the sacrifices by the security personnel and the people of Balochistan for national development. He said the hard days were over and the future would be far better than the past.

“The journey of Balochistan’s development has started. We will not rest until we reach the destination,” the prime minister added.

The prime minister was accompanied by Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Sanaullah Zahri, Minister for Port and Shipping Mir Hasil Bazenjo and Adviser to the PM on National Security Lt Gen (r) Nasser Khan Janjua.