QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan has said that we the politicians are responsible for that we have got something or not in CPCE projects.  We have to take hard decisions for generating revenue for Balochistan. Mining is a key revenue generating sector of Balochistan.

Balochistan has huge quantity of natural resources but earned 15 billion rupees every year which is insufficient for the development of this province, said CM Kamal, adding that we have to take solid initiatives for promoting of mining sector. Government would promote public private partnerships in projects in the province, Kamal said.

While addressing to a international seminar titled “Mining development” organised by Mining department government of Balochistan held at a local on Monday, the Chief Minister Jam Kamal said “Balochistan is popular for CPEC, Reko Diq, Saindak, sea and rich in natural resources.” This seminar is first step towards the development of Balochistan, he said.

CM said that huge population’s livelihood on coal mining in the province. In Muslim bagh people working in chromite and in Khuzdar Barium mining is going on, he said.

Lack of Human Resources, lack of basic structure, no availability of electricity are key hurdles in the development of mining sector in Balochistan, said Kamal, ” investors are reluctant to invest their money in mining sector due to these difficulties, he added.

The investors took raw materials from Balochistan to Karachi due to lack of urban centres through contractors, said Kamal, adding that sometimes local investors have to faces loss for it. Any government or company could not survive without solid policy or strong financial position, he added.

Talking about the policies, Kamal said that entire world is using latest techniques of business. The businessmen’ work to invest and quick decisions, solid policy making, protection providing and tax collections is responsibility of government, CM said.

Provincial government is taking initiatives for the betterment of mining department said Jam Kamal, adding that we are planning for the good training of mining department officers. Our good initiative, solid policies and better facilities would helpful to attract the foreign investors to invest in Balochistan, said Jam Kamal.

Secretary Mines and Mineral Zahid Saleem while presenting welcome address highlighted the aim and objectives of the seminar and said that there is a dire need for developing human resource for the development of mineral sector. He underlined the need for arranging training for the officials of the mineral department. He said that government should provide required funds for the mineral development.

He suggested that Rs. 8 billion should be allocated in the next financial year’s budget for mineral development.
The guest speakers including Mr. Liu Songtao of MCC, Mr. Liu Kai of MHD, Dr. Rabia Zafar, Ali Zahid Rahim, Mir Behroz Baloch, Ali Ahmed, Professor Khan Gul Jadoon, and Shamsuddin Sheikh read out their papers on different aspects of the mineral development.