Mandokhel Seeks Wider Global Cooperation to Accelerate Balochistan Development

Governor Balochistan highlights agriculture, jobs and rural infrastructure; contractors seek funding, rate revisions for stalled projects

Staff Report

QUETTA: Governor Balochistan Sheikh Jafar Khan Mandokhel has called for expanded cooperation with international organisations to accelerate development in the province’s remote and underdeveloped areas, while assuring government contractors of support in resolving financial and policy hurdles affecting ongoing development projects.

He made the remarks during separate meetings with a delegation of the Balochistan Government Contractors Association, led by its chairman Malik Haji Abdul Rehman Bazai, and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Balochistan Sub-Office Head Waleed Mehdi.

The contractors’ delegation apprised the governor of a number of issues confronting the construction sector, including the implementation of income tax in tribal areas, inadequate allocations for development projects, revision of the Balochistan Composite Schedule Rates 2026 and the timely and uninterrupted release of funds for ongoing schemes.

The delegation said inadequate funding and weak financial arrangements were slowing the pace of development and creating serious economic difficulties for thousands of contractors, engineers, labourers and others associated with the construction industry.

It stressed the need to align the Schedule Rates 2026 with prevailing construction costs, market conditions and ground realities. The delegation also called for the timely release of funds in phases for ongoing schemes to ensure their completion within stipulated deadlines and prevent cost escalation and wastage of public resources.

During his meeting with the FAO official, Governor Mandokhel said Balochistan maintained cordial and productive relations with United Nations agencies, including the FAO, and other international organisations to strengthen infrastructure, improve public services and accelerate development in remote districts.

He said such partnerships had already delivered positive results in education, healthcare, agriculture and clean water supply, but stressed the need to further expand international cooperation to improve basic facilities and create employment opportunities in less-developed areas.

The governor described agriculture and livestock as the backbone of Balochistan’s economy and called for greater adoption of modern farming technologies, improved seeds, efficient irrigation systems, climate-resilient cultivation and farmer training to enhance productivity.

Modernising the agriculture and livestock sectors, he said, could help the province move towards food self-sufficiency while creating thousands of jobs and new business opportunities.

Mandokhel also stressed the importance of ensuring the participation of small farmers, landowners, herders, women and youth in development programmes to strengthen the rural economy and expand employment opportunities.

Referring to the challenges posed by climate change, monsoon rains and water scarcity, he called for greater promotion of low-water crops, modern irrigation techniques and environmentally sustainable farming practices. The meeting also discussed agricultural development, livestock, horticulture, food security, farmer training and climate resilience.

Waleed Mehdi invited the governor to attend a programme at Balochistan Agriculture University for farmers and landowners from 19 districts. The programme will focus on modern farming techniques, productivity enhancement and the use of advanced agricultural technologies.

The FAO delegation stressed the need to connect agriculture with the entire value chain, including food processing, cold storage, packaging and marketing, to ensure better returns for farmers and stimulate economic activity in rural communities.