TURBAT: Pakistan Peoples’ Party co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari yesterday vowed that the PPP government after winning the upcoming general elections will make all possible efforts for the maximum development process in Balochistan along with peace in the long run.

Bilawal House press statement said former President Zardari promised that “PPP would start multiple development projects specifically in the fields of education, health and communication, besides ensuring supply of irrigation water to promote agriculture in the province.

Asif Zardari said in terms of development projects, “Balochistan will be the first now, as it has a lot of scopes to move forward”. The former president said that Balochistan was the heart of Pakistan. “Conflict does not bring prosperity,” he said, adding “We will beautify the province which has many resources.”

He claimed that during the party’s previous government in the province, he provided funds but did not monitor the development projects. “Now I will supervise the development projects myself,” he vowed.

The former President pointed out that previous Pakistan Peoples’ Party governments in Sindh had built lining canals, as a result of which sugarcane was being cultivated in many uninhabited areas of the province. “Gold can also grow here in Balochistan,” he added.

Asif Zardari said that development in Balochistan would be carried out in cooperation with China. “China will be our partner, we will work together with China.” He pointed out that Gwadar was already there, but no one except the PPP government paid attention to the expansion of that port.

“We have to improve the economic conditions, we have to give employment to the youth of Balochistan,” he said, adding that the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) would be expanded and educated unemployed youth would be given stipend till they get employment.

The former president said that if the PPP government formed after the upcoming general elections it would build a university in every division of Balochistan, a college in every district and medical colleges and hospitals keeping in view the population. He said that he had endured 14 years of imprisonment, during which he trained himself.

“Whenever the PPP comes to power, it comes to serve the people,” he said and added: “I gave identity to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province by giving its name. It’s not our fault, it’s our pride.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 19 2023

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