Balochistan govt allocates land for oil city : Aslam Raisani

[LRE]

ISLAMABAD, Mar 5 (APP): Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani Friday said the government had allocated hundreds of acres of land at Pasni in District Gwadar for setting up an ‘Oil City’ where refineries, petroleum products units and other allied installations would be established. The Chief Minister said this while talking to Lutfur Rehman, Chairman/Chief Executive of a Canadian based Pakistani company, who called on him, said a press release issued here.

The company registered with New York Stock Exchange has shown its interest for investment in oil and gas development in Balochistan.

He said the province had vast potential for generating power through windmills and invited them to explore this sector as the country was already facing a serious energy crisis.

Nawab Raisani also dispelled the impression that the law and order situation in the province not ideal for any investment.

He added that the people of Balochistan were far more enlightened and hospitable than those sitting at the helm of affairs somewhere else.

However, Raisani categorically declared that any such agreements signed during the past dictatorial regimes that undermined the interest of the people of Balochistan would be reviewed and further action would be taken accordingly.

He cited the example of Reko Diq and Saindak copper and gold projects through which the people of Balochistan had been deprived of their due share.

Nawab Raisani said the Balochistan government welcomed any positive proposals by the stakeholders but vehemently rejected any outside interference.

Meanwhile talking to a delegation of Turkish investors he assured provision of conducive environment to local and foreign investors for making investment in various sectors in the province.

The Turkish delegation was led by Mustafa Serdar, Chairman Ataseven Group and comprised Duran, Business Development, Commercial Attache of Turkish Embassy and Executive Director NFRD. Dr. Hasan Iftekhar, The Turkish delegation is visiting Islamabad prior to Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s forthcoming visit to Pakistan to further strengthen the brotherly relations between the two countries.

On the occasion the Turkish team informed the Chief Minister that the Ataseven Group was a leading Turkish company engaged in multiple ventures in various countries and in Pakistan it was working on joint venture with National Foundation for Resource Development (NFRD) in ‘Biomass’ forensic and construction sectors and were also dealing security related equipment and gadgets.

Mustafa Serdar also offered Turkey’s technical assistance and expertise to Balochistan through the federal government.

Nawab Aslam Raisani expressed his gratitude for such offer and said Balochistan was a resource-rich province where the plentiful mineral resources had not been fully exploited, which include copper, gold, silver, chromites and many other precious material.

The Chief Minister asked the delegation to send proposals in order to see which sectors to work in.

A delegation of a Dubai based Islamic bank led by its country head, Jawad Majid also called on Nawab Aslam Raisani and apprised him of bank’s activities in the province including opening of new branches in Gwadar, Quetta and other towns.

Nawab Raisani appreciated the bank’s interest in the province and said that the banking sector had great opportunities after the announcement of the NFC Award whereby massive scale uplift projects are likely to start in Balochistan.

APP