Ayesha Saba

The Balochistan province will experience robust socioeconomic growth once the infrastructure and energy projects launched under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor are completed. This was stated by Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special initiatives Ahsan Iqbal during an exclusive talk with WealthPK.

Ahsan Iqbal said, “The government is fully committed to the development of CPEC for the country's uplift, prosperity, poverty alleviation, human resource development, job creation, industrialisation and power generation.”

He expressed the hope that the Planning Commission would take the Balochistan province's demands into consideration and avoid making the same mistakes that had been made in the past. “The government would do its best for the fast-tracked, speedy and unhindered progress and development of the province.”

He added that today's challenge for any emerging nation is to become an ideal state economically. “We still need to learn how to run a successful economy.”

Adnan Khan, a socioeconomic development specialist at the CPEC Authority, while talking to WealthPK said that Baluchistan enjoys remarkable economic development, with trade extending from the mountains of Kashgar to the Arabian Sea and beyond. “The development of Gwadar is necessary for the success of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).”

It is relevant to add here that BRI is a major development initiative covering many regions. CPEC is a key component of BRI.

“CPEC is implementing a number of road and transportation, energy, education and training, industrial, and other socioeconomic projects. The development of road networks has increased social and economic activities in Balochistan. Along with the completed CPEC routes, locals have begun constructing hotels, stores and residences to boost their revenues,” Adnan Khan said.

He further said that some major projects for Balochistan were East Bay Expressway, Makran coastal highway, Gwadar international airport, Gwadar-Nawabash LNG terminal, Gwadar smart port city, a water treatment plant, Gwadar hospital upgradation, Gwadar primary school, and Zhob-Quetta highway.

“There is also an energy project – a 320MW China Hub Coal Power Project – which has become operational and provides electricity to multiple regions of Balochistan on a commercial scale,” he added.

According to the CPEC Authority official, industrial zones are being considered for a number of Balochistan cities, including Quetta, Gwadar, Khuzdar, Uthal, Hub and Dera Murad Jamali.

It is pertinent to mention here that Bostan Industrial Zone situated in Pishin district covers an area of 1,000 acres.

Development work on phase one (200 acres) has been completed, and allotment of plots for new industrial units has begun.