Zehri for tackling poverty and mass unemployment
Zehri for tackling poverty and mass unemployment
Haseeb Baloch
Lead

QUETTA: The Chief Minister, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, has asked the concerned officials to concentrate on efforts to banish poverty and tackle the problem of mass unemployment in Balochistan.

QUETTA: The Chief Minister, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, has asked the concerned officials to concentrate on efforts to banish poverty and tackle the problem of mass unemployment in Balochistan.

Chairing a high level meeting on Balochistan Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority B-TEVTA at the CM Secretariat on Tuesday, the Chief Minister told the officials that the fruits of past development had not reached the people and the officials should take appropriate steps ensuring employment opportunities for all.

Nawab Zehri deplored that the fruits of past development did not reach the people and it remained confined in the newspapers and public announcements only. He advised all concerns to avoid such practices and ensure better opportunities for mass employment.

He said “we should be fully prepared to face all the challenges of poverty and mass unemployment and we can tackle it by following a realistic policy and approach.”

Nawab Zehri directed the concerned officials to make BTEVTA an effective and autonomous body for which a summery should be prepared without any delay.  He said that the financial implications of the project should be reviewed carefully.

The institution should effective and vibrant in all respects besides being autonomous to serve the masses, the Chief Minister said.

He said that the CPEC had further added the importance of Balochistan and its strategic location with an unending coastline. It will be a curse if we fail to develop Balochistan according to our own vision and commitment, the Chief Minister told the officials in plain words.

He expressed his firm hope that the people of Balochistan would enjoy the fruits of development and the fruits would be within the reach of the common people without any discrimination.

The Chief Minister issued general instructions to all the Government Departments to make preparations for plans for economic development and making Balochistan a prosperous region.

Mr. Pasand Khan Buleidai, Secretary Labour and Manpower, briefed the Chief Minister about the requirements of the international market forces taking interests in development of Balochistan through CPEC or other mega projects.

He specifically mentioned the sector and department where the Labour and Manpower Department was working which included Construction, Engineering, Tourism, Information Technology, Finance and health. The task is to produce experts in the respective fields besides creating a huge force of technical and highly skilled labour to operate those sectors.

The Secretary said that the Department will establish an employment cell for this purpose.

The meeting finally decided to convert the technical training centres at Hub and Quetta into centres of excellence.

The meeting was also attended by the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Finance and other officials.

Fund release: Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also presided over a meeting related to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and the Departments of Planning and Development and Finance were directed to prepare PC I of the projects so that funds are released immediately.

The Chief Minister told the participants of the meeting that many projects of public welfare had been included in the budget which should be implemented at the earliest.