Federal Government Allocates Rs17.18 Billion for Development Projects in Balochistan, 50 Million Beneficiaries Reported
Independent report
ISLAMABAD, November 12: Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah has said that the development and prosperity of Balochistan remain a top priority of the federal government under the vision of “Prosperous Balochistan, Strong Pakistan”.
He was speaking during a meeting with a delegation of youth from different districts of Balochistan, organised by the Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP), in Islamabad on Thursday. Discussions focused on social protection, poverty alleviation, youth skills development and ongoing development initiatives in the province.
The federal minister said that, under the vision and special directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government was prioritising Balochistan’s social and economic development to ensure that the benefits of development reached remote and underdeveloped areas.
Briefing the delegation on welfare initiatives undertaken by the Ministry and its affiliated organisations, the minister shared details of financial assistance and development programmes.
He said that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) had distributed Rs114.859 billion among deserving beneficiaries in Balochistan since 2008, benefiting more than 471,000 households. Currently, 509,809 beneficiaries are registered under Benazir Kafaalat, 655,432 children under Benazir Taleemi Wazaif and 153,915 beneficiaries under the Benazir Nashonuma Programme.
He added that 48 field and tehsil offices were operating in the province, while 18 of the 25 mobile registration vehicles were serving Balochistan to facilitate people in remote areas.
The minister said the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) was playing an important role in establishing vocational training centres, clean water facilities, water filtration plants, solar power installations and community infrastructure in underdeveloped areas.
He said that projects worth Rs17.18 billion had been undertaken, including Rs8.79 billion during the current government’s tenure. A total of 18 projects had been completed in 22 districts, benefiting approximately five million people, 49 per cent of whom were women.
Regarding Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, the minister said four Sweet Homes had been established in Quetta, Turbat, Zhob and Kharan. He added that 6,976 women were receiving vocational training at 22 Women Empowerment Centres, while 1,710 children were enrolled in 14 special schools established to help eliminate child labour.
He said Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal had spent Rs5.10 billion in Balochistan over the past decade, including Rs2.10 billion during the current government’s tenure, while 4,862 deserving individuals had received direct financial assistance.
Under the National Poverty Graduation Programme (NPGP), assistance had been provided to 370,567 households in 21 underdeveloped districts of Balochistan.
The minister further said that 12 of the 20 districts selected nationwide for the Poverty Graduation and Empowerment Programme (PGEP), supported by US$134.2 million from the Islamic Development Bank, were located in Balochistan.
At the conclusion of the meeting, he urged young people to acquire modern knowledge and professional skills and play an active role in the development of the province and the country. The BRSP delegation thanked the federal minister for the welfare initiatives being undertaken in Balochistan.
