CM Bugti, UK envoy discuss climate and development
Staff Report
QUETTA:British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Miss Jane Marriott, met with Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti in Islamabad. The meeting discussed bilateral cooperation, the effects of climate change, establishment of good governance, improvement of law and order, reforms in the education and health sectors and the overall development strategy of the province in detail. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that climate change is an extraordinary challenge and in this context, Balochistan has established the first “Climate Fund” to deal with natural disasters and take effective measures for environmental protection. The Chief Minister said that comprehensive measures are being taken to improve governance and promote transparency in the province. During the last fiscal year, Rs 14 billion was saved from the non-development budget. Regarding the promotion of education, the Chief Minister of Balochistan said that quality education opportunities are being provided to the students of the province under the Benazir Bhutto Scholarship Program. Children of civilian martyrs, transgender people, minorities and deprived classes have also been included in this program so that everyone can get equal educational facilities. To empower the youth economically, an interest-free loan program is being introduced with the support of Akhuwat. Similarly, 16,000 contract teachers have been recruited in the education department completely on merit, while the process of reforms in the education and health departments is also underway so that the people have better access to basic facilities. The Chief Minister said that for the first time in the history of Balochistan, a youth policy has been introduced and the “Chief Minister Youth Skills Development Program” has been launched. Under this program, a target has been set to provide employment opportunities abroad by making 30,000 youth skilled. British High Commissioner Miss Jane Marriott, while appreciating the establishment of good governance and reform measures of the Balochistan government, said that the efforts of the provincial government for education, health and youth development are commendable. In the meeting, it was also agreed to increase training cooperation and collaboration in various sectors to increase the professional capacity of the CTD police.
