QUETTA, May 8 (APP):Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, met with an Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation led by Country Director Xiaoqin (Emma) Fan to discuss a long-term partnership across critical sectors, including water resources, agriculture, minerals and mining, education, health, information technology, skills development, and job creation. The Balochistan government has finalized a ten-year comprehensive development plan aimed at ensuring sustainable progress across multiple sectors. The high-level meeting focused …
Balochistan, ADB devises long-term development partnership
QUETTA, May 8 (APP):Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, met with an Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation led by Country Director Xiaoqin (Emma) Fan to discuss a long-term partnership across critical sectors, including water resources, agriculture, minerals and mining, education, health, information technology, skills development, and job creation.
The Balochistan government has finalized a ten-year comprehensive development plan aimed at ensuring sustainable progress across multiple sectors. The high-level meeting focused on investment opportunities and collaborative strategies, with the ADB delegation expressing strong interest in long-term investment and financial support, particularly in projects such as the Kachhi Canal and other water and agricultural initiatives.
Both sides agreed to adopt joint strategies for practical projects in education, healthcare, IT, vocational training, and youth employment. Chief Minister Bugti welcomed the involvement of international and national development partners, emphasizing that Balochistan is being developed into a secure, peaceful, and attractive region for investment.
Bugti highlighted that despite limited resources, the provincial government is prioritizing people-centric projects to address underdevelopment and ensure lasting benefits. He noted:
“We have prepared a ten-year plan to guarantee phased reforms and development measures across key sectors. Our government is committed to effective governance, transparency, and merit-based reforms to achieve sustainable growth.”
Progress in education was underscored, with 3,200 closed schools reopened and 2,100 new community-based schools established, shifting the focus toward quality education, modern facilities, and human resource development.
The Chief Minister assured investors of full support and effective security, stressing the government’s capacity to protect and implement mega projects while mobilizing resources to create new economic opportunities.
The meeting was also attended by Provincial Minister for Development and Planning Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Development Zahid Saleem, and Additional Secretary Chief Minister Secretariat Muhammad Fareedun.
