QUETTA: The Balochistan government and Chinese company CMEC agreed to build new schools in Gwadar and Ziarat using prefabrication technology under a public-private partnership programme.

The agreement was reached on Tuesday between the provincial government and the Chinese company after a meeting between Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani and CMEC General Manager Li Kan.

During the meeting, the Chinese company’s leader briefed Mr Alyani on his company’s projects and said that his company had expertise in constructing homes and buildings through prefabrication technology in a short period of time besides having experience in agriculture production through minimum use of water.

“Because of shortage of water, Balochistan can shift its agriculture sector to modern technology and the CMEC is ready to help the Balochistan government in this sector under the private-public partnership programme,” the Chinese company’s GM said.

Later, Mr Alyani and Mr Li Kan agreed to use prefab technology initially for building new schools in Gwadar and Ziarat.

The chief minister said that the Balochistan government would provide land for cultivation of vegetables and cotton plants in Lasbela university.

The Chinese company’s general manager agreed to train students of the Lasbela University in modern agriculture techniques besides awarding them scholarships for higher studies in China.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2019