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B'stan govt prioritise water, agri, road sectors uplift projects

RECORDER REPORT

QUETTA: The present provincial government has prioritised the projects involving development outlay of Rs 555.625 million, reflected in Rs 2,500 million federal PSDP during the current financial year 1999-2000, pertaining to water, agriculture and road sectors in Balochistan.

Sources said here on Wednesday that Rs 555.625m, Balochistan development projects were designed to reduce the disparity between Balochistan and other provinces. In all, there are 13 projects in these sectors.

Reads (Rs 430.556 million): Construction of inter-provincial highway, linking Loralai (Balochistan) with Taunsa via Murgha Kibzai, Musakhel and Drug (Rs 100m), construction of dual carriageway of Quetta-Chaman section of Pak-Afghan international highway, initially up to airport (Rs 92.516m); inter-district Bela-Awaran Road building (Rs 150m); construction of rural road from Jhal Magsi to Nigor (Rs 18m); widening of Quetta suburbs avenue from Bolan Medical Complex to western by-pass (Rs 70m);

Agriculture Rs (78.200 million): Maximum cotton production (Rs 54.200m); maximum production and export of quality apples (Rs 20m), onion exports (Rs 4m);

Water (Rs 46.869 million): Feasibility study on Magi Dam for water supply to Quetta (Rs 11m), feasibility study on Wali Tangi Dam for water supply to Quetta (Rs 2.400m), Kuchani Dara Dam for water supply to Quetta (Rs 10m), Sabakzai Storage Dam for Zhob (Rs 3.500m) and comprehensive inventory and ranking of hydro/electric projects in Balochistan (Rs 19.969m).

These sources are optimistic that with the completion of these projects, there would be better avenues of employment and enhanced economy, emerging from farm produce and products through still better means of marketing.