Balochistan Development Gateway

[Neo]

Peace in Balochistan to boost uplift activities: Prime Minister

ISLAMABAD (February 14 2007): Underlining the critical link between peace and development, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the establishment of peace and calm in Balochistan has given a boost to development activities and stimulated growth there.

He was talking to a delegation of Nazims and Naib Nazims of Chiltan Town, Quetta who called on him at his chamber at the Parliament House on Tuesday. Deputy Chairman Senate Jan Mohammad Jamali was also present.

Shaukat said the completion of mega projects would bring a significant change in the lives of people. The government, he said, is focusing both on the mega and small projects to bring improvement in the quality of life of the people and to provide them better facilities of health and education.

He said micro-development schemes have also been started all over the province to transfer the benefits of high economic growth to the masses. People have benefited directly from Rs 10 crore allocated to each district in Balochistan.

The Prime Minister said the government is focusing on providing employment opportunities to the youth of Balochistan and their quota in federal jobs has been increased from 3.5 percent. The government has also initiated training programmes in various technical fields to enable them to take maximum benefit from the jobs created for them, he said.

Shaukat said Gwader deep sea port would serve as a trade corridor for the region, linking Balochistan with Afghanistan, the Central Asian Republics and China.

He said with the completion of the Gwader port the government has fulfilled another commitment with the people of Balochistan. The operationalisation of Gwader Port will usher in an era of development and prosperity for the people of Balochistan as it will generate unprecedented economic activity.

The delegation thanked the Prime Minister and the government for initiating a large number of development projects in Balochistan and said the development works undertaken by the present government is unmatched in the history of the country.

The delegation appreciated the steps taken by the government for ensuring the security of women and to improve their status in the society.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=528478&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

[Neo]

Balochistan on threshold of prosperity

ISLAMABAD (February 19 2007): With already decades down the road, it is direly needed to continue the ongoing development process in Balochistan on a brisk pace. The time has come to open new vistas of progress and prosperity for ushering in an era of development for the deprived people of the province.

Although remnant of old feudal lords still desire the ancient system to prevail not knowing there is always a limit to vested interests, polarisation and tyranny.

But contrary, every saner person desires a better future for the people and rests great hopes with the ongoing development process across the province. No doubt, continuation of these mega projects guarantee solutions to all odds and sufferings of the poor people in the province and bring favourable changes to their lives.

The present government has embarked on numerous development activities to end the deprivation and bringing the Balochistan people to mainstream by providing them equal opportunities.

Allocations to the tunes of more than Rs 30 billion have been made for the projects in water, education, health, communication, energy and ports sectors and the work is going on.

Through these revolutionary mega projects in almost all sectors, the government is judiciously fulfilling its legal, moral and constitutional obligations.

Bothe the federal and the provincial governments are collectively continuing number of projects on war footing and with an aim to fill the development gap between Balochistan and rest of the country.

President Pervez Musharraf frequently visits Balochistan to get first hand knowledge of these activities, mostly initiated on his directives.

He had also gone to then troubled Kohlu area to announce Rs 1.5 billion development package as part of the government's extensive development projects across the province.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz recently announced 30,000 jobs for the Balochistan people side by side the government's initiatives to equip manpower by imparting technical training in various disciplines.

Every district is being benefitted from these projects either through employment generation and business opportunities at Gwadar Port, Coastal Highway and other communication links or by construction of water courses and dams, irrigation projects, boosting livestock and minerals and provision of gas and electricity to remote villages.

Trade and energy corridors emerging in wake of Gwadar Port and Coastal Highway would generate colossal economic activity and attract billions of dollars foreign investment.

Nobody can deny positive impacts of $16 billion Gwadar Port, Rs 5.811 billion Mirani Dam, Rs 1.1 billion Sabakzai Dam, Rs 31 billion Kachhi Canal, Rs 6 billion water courses project, Rs 54 billion roads link project, Rs 6.428 billion Naulang and Bolan dams, Rs 2.016 billion flood water saving project, Rs 2.243 billion Patfeeder canal, Rs 288 million flood protection project, Rs 37.37 million Rainwater Harvesting and Desertification control project and number of other projects.

Just imagine the impacts of $60 billion economic activity to be generated annually at the Gwadar Port, irrigation of more than 800,000 acres of land, creation of 30,000 more jobs and announcement of 56 percent of the total Khushhal Pakistan Programme allocations for Balochistan.

Moreover, road and rail links, lining of water courses, exploration of minerals, revival of Sandak project, electrification of villages, dissemination of technical training to youth, revival of livestock sector and orchards, electrification of villages and provision of health and education facilities would have far reaching and positive impacts on the lives of people.

Almost every district is going to reap the benefits of development activities one or the other way.

Irrigation projects of different magnitude are going to benefit around 20 districts, the livestock sector development project is focussing on 12 districts, a fish hatchery is being set up in Dera Murad Jamali, Wool improvement scheme starts functioning in three districts and is being extended to 28 districts.

LPG supply facility would benefit Chaman, Zhob and Turbat areas and 6,968 villages will be electrified through alternate energy resource, forestry projects are going on in Nasirabad and Quetta valleys and foreign investment is coming to Chagai for copper exploration.

Vegetable markets are being set up at Sibi, Turbat, Gwadar, Nushki and Washuk, delay action dams are being constructed in Turbat, Muslim Bagh, Loralai, Qila Saifullah and Zhob and Khushhali Bank is sponsoring women empowerment in 11 districts.

The Higher Education Commission, under President Musharraf's vision of quality education, will spend Rs 3 billion in Balochistan to improve education standard and upgrade Sardar Bahadar Khan Women University, Lasbella Agriculture University, Khuzdar University and Balochistan University.

Moreover, Rs 22 million has been provided for immediate release to provide buses to the university.

These projects and committed efforts of the government are going to herald an era of economic upswing, stamp out poverty and ameliorate the lot of people.

Prosperity is coming to their doorsteps with deprivation gradually ebbing away and there should be no doubt about it.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=530181&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

[Adux]

That is good news Neo, i wish Lulldapull was here to hear it

 

[Neo]

That is good news Neo, i wish Lulldapull was here to hear it

Good news indeed, just give it ten years to complete the ongoing mega projects.
Lull btw has definately left the forum.

 

[jupiter2007]

Why Pakgoverment doesn't relocate the trouble makers to Northern Territories (Gilgit), give them housing and Job and they will be fine.

 

[Neo]

February 26, 2007
Balochistan’s marble export

By Syed Fazl-e-Haider

MARBLE is an export-oriented sector. The estimated export of marble and granite products stood at $18 million during the first half 2006-07. Onyx-manufactured items worth $6.878 million were exported during July-December, 2006, an increase of 4.47 per cent over corresponding period last year.

According to one estimate, Balochistan has 90 per cent share in annual marble export. The province is rich in marble deposits. Marble is found at a number of localities in Labella, Khuzdar and Chaghi districts of the province. Onyx marble is being mined since 1950’s in Chaghi district.

Onyx has great demand in international market for its vast applications and uses. According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, export of onyx products during July-December, 2006 was 3,934 tonnes, as compared to 4,251 tonnes during the same period the previous year.

Balochistan’s share in marble production of the country is about 50 per cent. Out of the total production of around one million tons monthly, 0.3 million tons of Balochistan marble is daily shipped from Karachi to nearly 52 countries of the world.

The province has over 60 per cent beige colour marble deposits, which are being exported. Marble is mainly exported to US, Dubai, Korea and Bangladesh. European countries are still considered potential markets. Onyx marble from Chaghi can meet the international standards, if it is processed efficiently. The efficiency of marble processing industry depends on the quarry products. We can earn millions of dollars from export of this mineral by tapping world markets and improving quality by value addition and bringing down the extraction losses.

Balochistan is also a major producer of granite and onyx raw material but their deposits are yet to be assessed properly. The onyx products are part of marble and granite industry and its export has also increased significantly. According to statistics provided by the Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC), the exports of the sector including marble, granite and onyx products amounted to $21 million in the fiscal year 2005-2006, which showed an increase of 28 per cent while comparing with FY 2004-2005.

The marble industry in this province is faced with many problems. Out of the country’s total 1,095 units, Balochistan has only 60 small marble processing units. Marble sector must comprise a large number of mainly decentralised production units, which would mine a large variety of marble packs. A basic characteristic of these business units' structure must be the verticalisation of production (quarrying of marble, cutting and processing as well as the production of end products). These business units in the sector must have modern production facilities at their disposal and produce a diversified range of end products both in standard as well as in special dimension formats.

Generally, lease transfer of the mine becomes a problem for the people associated with the marble industry in Balochistan as mountains in the province are considered government property. According to the industry sources, the government offers lease of mine to investors with attached conditions.. Unlike Sindh and NWFP, lease is offered in Balochistan when a Sardar or a local native becomes the partner with the investor.

Marble industry lacks the technical facilities, as it has remained neglected. The industry directly depends on the marble quarries. The province has undeveloped and unsecured marble quarries due to which the industry has been losing business. Other problems include shortage of water supply and lack of sewerage system, electricity infrastructure, improper road network, telecom system and law and order.

Last year, President General Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the ‘marble city’ at Gaddani and assured the manufacturers that mining would be undertaken by utilising the latest technologies to avoid wastages. About 300 units would be set up for the marble city on some 600 acres and investment is being made by expatriate Pakistanis from USA, Japan, Spain and the UAE.

The president also assured some other measures to help the marble industry, as it had failed to benefit from the marble boom. The government needs to develop processing centres with automatic tiling plants in the i marble city and the president had assured that the equipment would be imported for the purpose. The induction of modern technology in marble sector will increase efficiency of processing units.

Marble industry sources say that the government should evolve a marble policy envisaging sanction of mining leases to different private firms under soft terms and conditions. Prospecting licence may also be granted to the firms for ascertaining marble reserves in previously unexplored area in the province. Under the policy, private sector should be given incentives for making investment in the marble sector. The government must also ensure the security to investors and technology up-gradation through public and private sectors interventions.

Marble exports need better marketing. There is a need to monitor the international market and changing trends in demand and supply. Marble quality and demand in international market may be raised further using machines in polish work and marble cutting.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/02/26/ebr9.htm

 

[Introvert]

Farm research institutes planned in Balochistan​

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) will establish new research institutes as well as strengthen the existing ones in Balochistan at a cost of Rs723 million.

Out of the total Rs723 million, Rs16 million is foreign exchange component. Five new research institutes would be established at Usta Muhammad, Khuzdar, Hazarganji, Shoran and Qila Saifullah while four existing institutes would be strengthened in Sariab, Sibbi, Turbat and Quetta, official sources told The News on Monday.

This project would be approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP), scheduled to meet today (Tuesday) with Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Akram Sheikh in the chair.The project was originally approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) with a total cost of Rs614 million, but out of that amount only Rs47 million could be utilised. The plan has now been revised because of escalation in the cost.

The project is aimed at providing infrastructure and revamping the existing facilities of research in agriculture, livestock and range/forestry sectors. The up-gradation of existing agricultural research systems will also address the problems faced by farmers in arid and semi-arid regions of Balochistan and help alleviate poverty.

It would also enhance productivity of crops, livestock, range and forests through efficient use of new technologies by farmers. It would improve capacity-building and upgrade skills through short and long-term training. It would also improve sustainability of different agro-ecological zones of Balochistan by stopping degradation of fragile ecologies.

The project would also cater to multi-disciplinary research and development needs of Balochistan by addressing research problems with special reference to horticulture, range land development, desertification control, dry land crops, efficient soil/water management and livestock/animal husbandry in the province.

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=44599

 

[pilot_dude]

You guys should see what lull says about Pakistan on irandef....if he were to say that kinda bull-crap here he'd be shipped out immediately...I CHALLENGE YOU LULL...REPEAT WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT PAKISTAN AND ITS PEOPLE ON IRANDEF OVER HERE......I DOUBLE DARE YOU.

 

[Neo]

What happens in other fora stays there, don't bring their trash here.
You want to counter them, do it there right in their face.

PFF doesn't take please in degrading other fora!

 

[Janbaz]

President asks Balochistan miscreants to be progressive


SIBBI (updated on: March 01, 2007, 16:57 PST): President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday urged the subversive elements in Balochistan to abandon their activities and instead focus on the development and progress of the province.

'We have the ability to deal with them ... they too are our Pakistani brethren ... but are misguided,' the president told a large gathering here at the 500-year old Sibbi Festival.

"I urge them to leave the path of terrorism, stop creating problems for their countrymen," he said

The president said he was there to help the people of Balochistan progress so that they at par with the rest of the country.

He said the government would do everything for the uplift of the country's hitherto neglected province and mentioned the string of projects initiated since he took over.

President Musharraf said acts like blowing up road, rail bridges and electricity pylons by the terrorists were not doing any good to the people of the province.

"In the end it is the common man who suffers," he said and urged the people to help the government in the development activities so that more facilities were brought to their doorsteps.

"Pakistan is because of Balochistan and the progress of Balochistan is the progress of Pakistan," President Musharraf said and warned the handful of elements trying to hatch conspiracies.

President Musharraf regretted the neglect of the past 50 years by previous governments and said efforts were underway to correct it by launching multi-billion rupees projects in the spheres of communications, water supply, irrigation, agriculture, education, health and employment generation.

He mentioned the wealth of vast natural resources available in Balochistan and urged that foreign investors be facilitated to explore these, and not be scared away.

The president announced Rs 10 million each for every Tehsil of Balochistan, a new campus of Balochistan University in Sibbi, creation of Balochistan High Court Bench, an additional amount of Rs 20 million for Sibbi and feasibility study for setting up of an agriculture university.

He said restoration of the Sibbi-Harnai rail link will also be considered. The president said the link was disrupted when terrorists blew up the rail bridges and said such activities were only creating problems for the people.

The president said the government has enough resources to carry out large scale development activity. "It is the right of the people to put up the demands, and the obligation of the government to meet these."

President Musharraf also mentioned other projects in Balochistan that were aimed at revolutionising the lives of the common man. He said the Mirani Dam will be completed in 2008, while pace of work has been increased on the Kaachi Canal that will irrigate 713,000 acres and benefit around 700,000 farmers in the area.

The Subakzai dam was also complete and would be inaugurated next month, while work on three new water reservoirs-Bolan Dam, Nolang Dam and Wali Tangi Dam-would be undertaken. He said brick lining of water courses and setting up of filtration plants for the benefit of common man were also underway.

He said the Makran Coastal Highway was being extended up to the Pak-Iran border, while another new 1000 km road will link Gawadar through Turbat to Rato Dero was being completed.

Road links between Zhob-D.I.Khan, Quetta-D.G.Khan and Sibbi-Kohlu road were being completed and a feasibility study for rail link from Dalbaldin-Kandahar was underway.

President Pervez Musharraf urged the youth of the province to focus on their studies and mentioned that the government has already announced 1000 scholarships for outstanding youth for studies in educational institutions. He said seven cadet colleges will be established in the province to provide quality education to the Baloch youth.

Governor Balochistan Awais Ghani, Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousaf, federal and provincial ministers, parliamentarians and tribal elders attended the event.

Business Rcorder.
http://www.brecorder.com/

 

[Neo]

Exploiting resources in Balochistan: Musharraf for facilitating foreign investors

SIBI (March 02 2007): President General Pervez Musharraf has strongly advised the handful of subversive elements damaging vital national installations and assets in Balochistan to abandon this path and take part in the development and progress of the province.

Addressing a big public gathering here on Thursday, he said that a few misguided elements in Balochistan have chosen the course of harming the interests of the province by trying to harm its economic uplift programmes.

The President said that these anti-development elements are not only harming the interests of the country but also retarding the progress of their own province. He expressed his firm resolve to counter these elements for the continued economic development of the province.

The President said Balochistan has vast reservoir of natural wealth that needs to be developed for the fast track economic development. He said the foreign investors must be facilitated to exploit the natural resources of the province and not scared away.

President Musharraf promised development and prosperity for Balochistan and said that the province would be brought at par with other developed areas of the country.

He said the progress of Balochistan is the prosperity of Pakistan as the two are inseparable. He said Pakistan and Balochistan are one in the same. He said the government has the resources and availability of funds to finance big development projects in the province which was neglected in past.

He said during last six years, a series of development projects was initiated in Balochistan including Gwadar Deep Seaport, Coastal Highway, network of roads and new water reservoirs.

President said Kachhi Canal would help irrigate more than seven hundred thousand acres of baren land and help speed up the economic development.

He assured that the canal would be made operational by 2008 as work on both sides of the project, from Punjab and Sindh is underway.

President Musharraf said modern communication network is being constructed in the province to link it with the rest of the country, Central Asia, Iran and the Gulf that would usher a new era in the province.

The President said nine hundred and fifty kilometre road from Gwadar to Turbat-Awaran and Ratto Dero would be constructed.

He said severl other roads would be built including Zhob to D.I.Khan Quetta-D.G.Khan and Sibi to Kohlu. He said the network of new roads would be open up for less developed parts of the province for fast track economic uplift.

He said linking Dalbandin with Kandahar through rail network is also being studied.

About the water reservoirs, the President said Mirani Dam has already been commissioned which would help irrigate 36,000 acres of barren land and provide fresh impetus to fisheries sector.

He that Subakzai Dam is near completion and would be inaugurated next month. He said three more new water reservoirs including Bolan, Lolang and Talitangi would be constructed to help meet the growing needs of the province in the agriculture.

The President said that the water tanks and canals would be brick lined at a cost of five billion rupees and safe drinking water would be provided to the people across the province.

President announced ten million rupees each for every tehsil of Balochistan and said that one hundred million rupees for each district have already been committed for various development schemes.

The President said every village would be electrified and gas would be taken to many more towns and cities of the province.

He said seven Cadet Colleges would be set up across the province and special scholarships are being offered to right students to enable them to study in the top quality educational institutions of the country.

The President also announced Balochistan University Campus, High Court Bench and additional twenty million rupees for small development schemes for Sibi.

The President said the Sibi-Hernai rail bridges damaged by the miscreants would be reconstructed.

President Musharraf responding to a demand of the people said that there should be an agricultural university in Sibi and directed the Governor to prepare the feasibility for the project.

The President who inaugurated the Sibi by-pass said the projected would be completed in two to three years.

The Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf addressing on the occasion said that under the leadership of President Musharraf the proince has been set on the path of socio-economic uplift. He said the series of mega development projects being undertaken would usher in prosperity and progress of the people.

Minister for States and Frontier Regions Yar Muhammad Rind and District Nazim Sibi also spoke on the occasion.

Governor Balochistan Awais Ahmad Ghani, Deputy Chairman Senate Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali and Minister of State for Petroleum Natural Resources Muhammad Naseer Khan Mengal and large number of parliamentarians and provincial ministers were also present.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=533997&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

[Neo]

March 02, 2007
Balochistan projects to be completed in ’08: president

By Amanullah Kasi

QUETTA, March 1: President Pervez Musharraf has said he is prepared to meet people who are against development projects in Balochistan and address their grievances.

They were Pakistanis and if they had certain demands he was prepared to meet them, the president said while addressing a public meeting held in Sibi to mark the conclusion of the Sibi festival on Thursday.

He, however, asked what he called anti-development forces to desist from subversion and sabotage and take part in activities launched by the government for progress and prosperity of Balochistan.

He announced Rs10 million grant for each tehsil in the province for development projects and Rs20 million For Sibi.

He said that the fate of Pakistan and Balochistan were inter-linked and the progress of Balochistan would be the progress of the entire nation.

He said that elements targeting gas pipelines, railways tracks and electricity pylons were enemies of the people, adding that no one could separate Balochistan from Pakistan.He called upon the people to vote for ‘positive forces’ who supported his government’s policies aimed at improving the lives of the poor masses.

He acknowledged that Balochistan had been neglected in the past and the province suffered in the economic field. But now, he said, his government was making concerted efforts to bring the province at par with Punjab.

Gen Musharraf said that all development projects in the province would be completed by 2008. The Kachhi canal would start getting water which would be used to irrigate about 700,00 acres of land and provide employment to 700,00 people.

He said the Mirani dam, which had been completed, would irrigate 36,000 acres of land and work was in progress on the Sabakzai dam. Besides, Bolan, Norang and Tali Tangi dams would also be built.

The president ordered the

setting up of campus of Agricultural University and Balochistan University in Sibi. He also said that seven cadet colleges would be set up in the province and 1,000 scholarships would be awarded to Balochistan students for studying in higher educational institutions of the country.

The president said that the road from Sibi to Kohlu would be completed. The government, he added, planned to extend the railway line from Bostan to Zhob and that would be converted into broad gauge.

He said that Balochistan would be connected with the NWFP and Punjab through the national highways and a road would be built from Quetta to the Iranian border.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf, federal minister Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind and Sibi District Nazim Mir Ali Mardan Domki also addressed the meeting.

Provincial Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, Senate Deputy Chairman Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali, federal minister Shamim Siddiqui, minister of state Mir Naseer Mengal, provincial ministers, tribal elders and senior civil and military officials were present at the meeting.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/03/02/top3.htm

 

[Janbaz]

'Efforts on to bring prosperity in Balochistan'

ISLAMABAD (March 04 2007): The government is making efforts to convert Balochistan into a developed province, the spokesman of Balochistan government, Raziq Bugti, said on Saturday. Talking to PTV, he said that the government had started several development projects in the province, and majority of Balochistan people are in favour of progress and prosperity of the province.

Most of the projects would be completed by the end of 2008, to be helpful in government's bid to bring the province at par with the rest of the country, he said. He said that Gwadar port project has provided employment opportunities to hundred percent locals. It has increased economic activities there. A few years ago there were only 800 boats. The number has already swelled up to thousands recently, the spokesman added.

Business Recorder.
http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=534791&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

[Neo]

March 13, 2007
Balochistan invites Canadian investors

By Saleem Shahid

QUETTA, March 12: Industrialists from Canada have shown keen interest to invest in oil and gas, minerals, tourism and other sectors in Balochistan. A high-level investment delegation headed by Chief Secretary K. B Rind now visiting Canada had a meeting with the Canadian investors and industrialists in Toronto.

According to official sources the delegation during its stay in Canada explored the possibility of joint ventures with Canada in different sectors and apprised the investors of the incentives and other facilities the Balochistan government was offering to the investors in the province especially in Gwadar Industrial Estate.

The chief secretary informed the Canadian businessmen that after the announcement of a liberal investment policy and other incentives a large number of foreign investors had shown keen interest in investing in Balochistan. "Foreign investment would bring a positive impact on the economy of the country and especially Balochistan," he said.

He said that the province had great potential for investment in minerals, fisheries, mining, tourism, livestock and agriculture sectors. He further said that many foreign companies were already working on various mineral exploration projects.

He explained in detail the progress made on the Saindak gold project and Ricko-Dek gold and cooper projects and said that the Chinese, Chilean and Canadian companies were working on these projects.

He said that the Gwadar Port would become functional during this month as President Musharraf is likely to inaugurate the new port on March 20. Mr Rind told Dawn from Toronto that his visit to Canada was extremely successful as the delegation got the opportunity to meet a number of investors and leading industrialists.

A Pakistani born Canadian industrialist Nasir Hussain also had a meeting with the delegation and enquired about the possibilities of investment in Gwadar, the new port city of Balochistan.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/03/13/ebr9.htm

 

[Janbaz]

'Balochistan's annual GDP can rise to 7pc'

Our staff reporter
ISLAMABAD - Balochistan’s Gross Domestic Product could be stepped up to seven percent per annum, witnessing an increase of 2.5 percent a year against average rate of 4.5 percent over the last 15 years, if the recommendations of maiden state of Pakistan’s competitiveness report were implemented in true spirit.
To improve overall competitiveness of the province, a five-point strategy was proposed in recently released competitiveness report by Competitiveness Support Fund in collaboration of Ministry of Finance.
The main emphasis in the competitiveness strategy was put on increasing investment and focusing more on manufacturing sector and mineral extraction in the province.
The report also recommended investing more in education and training to enhance the labor skills of highly underdeveloped province.
The competitiveness report strongly recommended to increase investment in the province by addressing the concerns of private and the public sector while undertaking large scale outlays in infrastructure primarily roads, power and ports.
The paper proposed to eliminate subsidies given on using of different resources such as electricity and emphasized on improving the efficiency of resources use particularly, water. The report found that subsidies encourage uneconomic use of already scare resources.
The report also urged to make maximum use of coastal line and Gwadar port of the province, so, the country could extract maximum from God-gifted opportunities.
The report also advocated shifting the economic structure to faster-growing sectors like manufacturing and mineral extraction. It also suggested encouraging foreign direct investment in the extraction and use of coal, copper, chromate and other minerals and by developing the port city of Gwadar as an industrial powerhouse.
The paper recommended strongly investing in education and training and by developing partnership between public and private sector to ensure that the skills imparted were those demanded by the market.
It was mentioned in the report that if the recommendations were taken into account seriously, it would not only result into increasing the GDP growth rate of the province but also add sustainability to the competitive ability of the country.

The Nation.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/mar-2007/15/bnews8.php