Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the economic uplift of Balochistan while addressing the "Uraan Pakistan Balochistan Consultative Workshop." The event, organized with the collaboration of the Government of Balochistan, was graced by the presence of Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, members of the Balochistan Assembly, senior officials including the Additional Chief Secretary and Secretary Planning Balochistan, and key stakeholders from the province. In his keynote address, Ahsan Iqbal expressed gratitude to the Government of Balochistan for organizing the workshop under the Uraan Pakistan initiative. He described the project as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s ambition to become a trillion-dollar economy, and emphasized that the journey initiated today mirrors the challenging circumstances faced by the PML-N government in 2013. He recalled that when PML-N assumed office in 2013, Pakistan was engulfed in despair, terrorism was rampant, load-shedding lasted up to eighteen hours a day, and the industrial sector was paralyzed. Balochistan, in particular, was plagued by lawlessness, with businesses and roads unsafe, and overall governance in disarray. Reflecting on the achievements from 2013 to 2018, Ahsan Iqbal stated that by 2017-18, peace had been restored in Balochistan, an extensive network of roads had been built, and development projects gained momentum. He highlighted that the Gwadar-Quetta journey, which once took thirty-six hours, had been reduced to just eight hours through the construction of a 650-kilometer highway. This infrastructure not only improved connectivity but also spurred employment and economic activities along its route. Ahsan Iqbal paid tribute to the sacrifices of Frontier Works Organization (FWO) personnel who laid down their lives during the construction of these vital arteries, emphasizing that hostile elements who opposed Balochistan’s prosperity had been defeated through determination and resilience. The Federal Minister elaborated that the PML-N’s political vision is firmly linked to the development of Balochistan, unlike others who thrive on its backwardness. Major projects such as the construction of the Gwadar-Khuzdar-Ratodero road, the dualization of the Quetta-Zhob highway, and upgrades to the N-25 highway were cited as milestones achieved under the PML-N government. He stressed that sustainable development is contingent upon a robust infrastructure network. Education was another key area highlighted by the Minister. He pointed out that new universities and campuses were established in Balochistan's remote areas, and institutions like BUITEMS and Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University received enhanced funding. Special attention was given to strengthening mining engineering departments to harness the province’s mineral wealth. The PML-N government also introduced 5,000 scholarships for students from Balochistan and the erstwhile FATA, a program that is now being expanded under a second phase. Scholarships for Balochistan’s lawyers to pursue international education were also initiated. Ahsan Iqbal stated that the PML-N’s holistic development strategy focused on education, infrastructure, energy, and human resource development. He referenced a 2017 PricewaterhouseCoopers report which predicted that if Pakistan had continued its growth trajectory, it could have been among the world’s top 20 economies by 2040. However, political instability in 2018 derailed progress, resulting in significant economic setbacks. Despite these challenges, he asserted that Pakistan is once again on a path to recovery. Tough decisions taken by the current government have led to a reduction in policy rates from 30% to 12%, revival of the stock market to record highs, and a notable increase in remittances, including a historic one-billion-dollar current account surplus. Ahsan Iqbal announced that the Uraan Pakistan program is now ready to soar once again. If pursued with unwavering focus over the next twenty-two years, he expressed optimism that Pakistan could become one of Asia’s leading economies by 2047. He detailed the five pillars underpinning the Uraan Pakistan initiative: export-led growth, IT sector development, climate resilience and water security, renewable energy expansion, and socio-economic uplift of the country’s poorest districts. He stressed that Gwadar Port will serve as a key gateway for exports, and highlighted the anticipated investment boom following the development of the Reko Diq project. Collaboration between the federal and provincial governments, particularly in the sectors of water security, livestock, solar energy, and IT, is central to the Uraan Pakistan strategy. Ahsan Iqbal shared that massive development work is underway to improve health indicators, tackle malnutrition, and uplift twenty of Pakistan’s most underdeveloped districts, with cost-sharing between the federal and provincial governments. Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, in his address, lauded the federal government’s efforts and reiterated the Balochistan government’s full support for national development initiatives. He particularly thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for projects like the Kachhi Canal and the expedited completion of the N-25 highway. Concluding his remarks, Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that Balochistan is not Pakistan’s periphery; it is its power and future. He called upon all stakeholders to work collectively to ensure that the dreams envisioned through Uraan Pakistan become a lasting reality, promising a brighter and more prosperous future for every citizen of Balochistan.
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