QUETTA: In a significant move to uplift the remote region of Nokundi, the Balochistan government and the Reko Diq Mining Company (RDMC) are jointly executing a comprehensive development plan focused on education, healthcare, and economic growth. The progress of these initiatives was reviewed in a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan on Tuesday.
The meeting detailed several transformative projects underway. In the education sector, RDMC has already established seven schools in Nokundi and adjacent areas, with a current enrollment of over 441 students, significantly boosting primary education. Plans for a state-of-the-art Daanish School are also in the pipeline. Simultaneously, healthcare infrastructure is being bolstered with a new community health centre and a mobile health unit for Nokundi. Crucially, to address emergencies along a key transport route, medical response centres will be established along National Highway N-40, aiming to improve medical access and reduce mortality rates.
A cornerstone of the development plan is economic empowerment through skill development. Officials reported that 489 students have already graduated from the RDMC Skill Development Centre in Nokundi, with 101 graduates securing employment. This initiative is designed to build local technical capacity and ensure sustainable economic growth by creating job opportunities for the community.
Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, addressing the meeting, reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to providing basic facilities like education and healthcare in all districts, including remote areas like Nokundi and Chagai. He acknowledged the remarkable progress already achieved through this collaboration, highlighting its role in enhancing the overall quality of life for local residents. The meeting was attended by senior provincial secretaries and top RDMC management, including Zarar Jamali and Country Manager Ashley Price.
Meanwhile the Balochistan government has imposed a sweeping and indefinite suspension of all inter-city transport on a critical section of National Highway N-70, citing pressing security threats. The order, which came into immediate effect, halts all taxi services and private vehicle movement on the Loralai route until further notice, effectively severing a major transportation artery in the province.
