Quetta: Balochistan Government Spokesperson Shahid Rand has said that the Balochistan Cabinet has approved policy guidelines for trading in carbon markets, Balochistan Foundational Learning Policy and provision of basic facilities to schools in remote areas of the province.
He announced this during a press conference at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Thursday.
He said that the Cabinet approved policy guidelines for trading in carbon markets. Under these guidelines, a carbon market working group will be established at the federal level, in which all four provinces will be represented. A joint policy regarding carbon markets will be made in mutual consultation with the four provinces including Balochistan.
Spokesperson Rind further said that the Balochistan Cabinet approved the plan to provide basic facilities to schools in remote areas of the province. The initiative will be launched with the support of the World Bank to improve basic facilities and quality of education in schools. The cabinet also approved a five-year plan of $100 million. The project aims to improve the quality of education, ensure enrollment of out-of-school children and address issues related to distance.
The Balochistan government spokesperson also said that the cabinet has approved the Balochistan Foundational Learning Policy, which is expected to lead to educational reforms, improve the quality of education and increase the literacy rate in the province. The Cabinet also approved the Regularity Act, 2024 regarding appointment, posting and transfer of teachers. The purpose of this act is to legalize the policy of recruitment of temporary teachers and after the approval of the cabinet, it will be presented in the Balochistan Assembly. Teachers recruited at Union Council and local level will not be transferred elsewhere.
Shahid Rind emphasized that Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti reiterated his commitment to bring transparency in the recruitment process at the local level on the basis of merit. The entire cabinet has agreed in principle to implement the Chief Minister’s commitment to merit.
He also said that the Balochistan Cabinet has also approved the release of funds for the Balochistan Water Resources Development Sector Program, which will be implemented under a soft loan from the World Bank. The objective of this program is to ensure proper use of agricultural water and improve water management.
The spokesman also said that the Balochistan government had planned to build a cricket academy on the land of Radio Pakistan in Sariab Road, Quetta. However, despite several attempts, Radio Pakistan did not agree to hand over the land. Since Radio Pakistan is also a state institution, the provincial government does not want to get into any controversy. Therefore, it was decided to construct the Cricket Academy at an alternative location.
Rind added that the Balochistan Cabinet gave conditional approval for the extension of the lease agreement with PPL. The extension will take into consideration the case pending in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Chief Minister Bugti informed the cabinet members about the demands accepted by PPL for public welfare. The cabinet also expressed concern over the delay in the implementation of the approved bypass project in Dera Murad Jamali and directed that a letter be sent to the National Highway Authority (NHA) regarding the pending project.