Balochistan approves hydroponics project, rollout planned in 10 districts

QUETTA (Dunya News) – The Balochistan government has given the green light to a major hydroponics and horticulture project, with an initial rollout planned in 10 districts of the province.

The approval came during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on the Public Sector Development Programme, chaired by Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti in Quetta. Provincial ministers attended the session, while some members joined in via video link.

Under the plan, hydroponics facilities will be set up in selected districts in the first phase. If the project takes off and delivers results, it will be expanded step by step to other parts of the province.

Reviewing the plan, the chief minister said getting more output with less water is the need of the hour and stressed that modern farming techniques are key to strengthening Balochistan’s agricultural economy. He said the project would open new doors for farmers and help put agriculture on a stronger footing.

The meeting also took stock of ongoing irrigation and dam projects across the province. Officials briefed the committee on progress, particularly on dams under construction in Gwadar.
Bugti said the Gwadar dams would be used only for drinking water, noting that the coastal city has been facing an acute water shortage due to scarce rainfall over the past two years.

He directed authorities to speed up work on the dam projects to address the issue without further delay.