Dear CDW,

I am investor & regular visitor of this website. It contains good stuff ( valueable posts / comments / predicitons & market rates).
Now, the website has become well known among all investors.

But regret to say: The owner of this website did nothing to improve the status of the site. He just changed fonts & colors, but did nothing w.r.p to security & risk measurement. I have found very poor management for this website since a long time. A lot of spam messages/even virius has been attached with this website.

I would like to make a loud voice. "PLEASE, save the website from spam messages, its panice."

I would like to request to all particpant particularly Mr.Assad & Mr. Awan, Please choose another website.
Post your valueable experience & predection on a website that remain safe & spam free. Becuase this website seems to be orphan.

Khurram Nazir
Islamabad.

GWADAR (August 29): Cargo vessel “MV Amna S” carrying 22,515 metric tons (MT) urea has arrived at Gwadar Port

GWADAR (August 29): Cargo vessel “MV Amna S” carrying 22,515 metric tons (MT) urea has arrived at Gwadar Port and discharging has started immediately. The urea is being imported by Trading Corporation of Pakistan on the directions of the Economic Coordination Commission of the cabinet to provide the commodity to farmers at discounted rates. Shipping Agent of vessel is Matrah Shipping Company and Cargo Clearing Agents is Batail International.

with thanks to janab Hameed Baloch

Gwadar: Unjust Behavior of Police & Admin Condemned

63rd session of Senate today

Meanwhile resolutions would also be presented in the senate on water filtration installments, establishment of medical college in Lora Lai and Gawadar and control of unemployment from Senator Abdur Rahim Mandokhel, Khalid Mehmood Soomro and senator Talha Mehmood respectively.

onlinenews

NA body proposes cancellation of PSA agreement with ministry concerned 

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping here on Tuesday proposed unanimously to cancel the agreement of the Ports and Shipping Authority (PSA) with the Ministry of Ports and Shipping.

This was decided in a meeting with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping Chairman Rana Mehmoodul Hassan, a press release said.

The NA body also expressed dissatisfaction over the briefing of the ministry that it has not fulfilled its requirements in accordance with the agreement it inked with the PSA. It has also allegedly not done that work according to their commitment and requirements of the agreement.

The PSA also allegedly failed to complete the Phase-II Project and it was also unable to satisfy the committee over the briefing and work of National Highway Authority (NHA). The briefing did not prioritise road projects, particularly the Ratodero-Khuzdar road project and did not aim to connect Gwadar Port with reference to transshipping trade with Middle East and other European countries.

The committee expressed concern over its method of releasing funds by the Ministry of Finance to NHA for Balochistan as well. The committee further suggested that the Ratodero project should be prepared on priority by releasing funds by the Ministry of Finance.

The committee requested the prime minister and the president to ensure law and order in Balochistan and help urgently release funds to NHA in order to expedite completion of the Ratodero-Khuzdar road project connecting it to the Gwadar port.

Maulvi Agha Muhammad, Haji Rozuddin, Sardar Muhammad Israr Tareen, Moulvi Asmatullah, Mir Changez Khan Jamali, Mohammad Usman Advocate, Lieutenant General Abdul Qadir Baloch (Retd), MNAs Dr Zil-e-Huma and Asiya Nasir were invited on special invitation by the committee to give them a briefing on the status of the Gwadar Port and progress made by the NHA with regard to the construction of roads to connect the Gwadar Port with major cities of the country.

The meeting was attended by Syed Nasir Ali Shah, Sher Mohammad Baloch, Nazir Ahmed Bughio, Sardar Mohammad Saif-ud-Din Khosa, Sardar Mansab Ali Dogar, Nosheen Saeed, Khawaja Sohail Mansoor, Shaukatullah, MNAs and senior officers of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Ministry of Finance and the National Highway Authority.

thenews.com.pk

Rs 9 billion being spent on road projects linking Gwadar: NHA Chairman

ISLAMABAD: The Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA) Altaf Chaudhry told the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping that Rs 9 billion have been allocated for 18 road building projects.
The committee meeting held under the chairmanship of MNA Rana Mehmoodul Hassan at the NHA Headquarters. He told the meeting that Rs 3 billion would be spent on construction of Gwadar-Rattodero road alone. Some members of the committee belonging to Balochistan expressed their concerns over delay in operationalization of the port. They said that this port can become a source of economic progress of the country, if we can prove required road links.
Members of the committee in their recommendations said that the Gwadar port can prove a backbone in development of the Balochistan. They demanded that immediate steps should be taken early start of infrastructure projects. The meeting was attended by Syed Nasir Ali,Sher Muhammad Baloch,Nazir Boghio,Sardar Yusuf Khosa,Sardar Mansab Ali Dogar,Nausheen Saeed,Khawaja Sohail Mansoor,Shaukatullah Khan,Maulvi Agha Muhammad,Haji Roz Din,Sardar Israr Tarin,Maulvi Asmatullah,Mir Changaiz Jamali,Usman Advocate,Abdul Qadir Baloch,Dr Zil-e-Huma and Asia Nasir.

daily regional times

Iranian FM to Visit Pakistan Next Month

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is scheduled to visit Pakistan early in July to explore fresh avenues of mutual cooperation in meetings with senior Islamabad officialse Iranian Foreign Minister will be in Islamabad in the first week of the next month to attend the next session of the two countries' Joint Ministerial Commission.

A statement released by the Pakistani Prime Minister's office announced that the two sides plan to review Iran-Pakistan relations and cooperation in all the different areas and explore further avenues for expanding their cooperation.

According to the statement, Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, who was speaking in a meeting with Islamabad's Ambassador to Tehran M.B. Abbasi, has expressed the hope that Iran and Pakistan would find new avenues of cooperation in their multi-dimensional relationship during Mottaki's upcoming visit to Islamabad.

The Pakistani premier further urged the envoy to redouble his efforts to create a better understanding between the two countries on issues of mutual concern.

Gilani said his government would positively pursue early finalization of feasibility study for the import of 1000 MW electricity from Iran to undertake this project as soon as possible.

He vowed to also personally supervise expeditious implementation of projects like refurbishment of the rail line from Quetta to Taftan and Dalbandin-Noshki road construction with the assistance of the Iranian government.

english.farsnews.com

daily express

daily express

'Pakistan, China cornerstone of stability in South Asia'

LNG terminal at Gwadar Port likely alternative

Karachi—The much needed Iran Gas Pipeline project seems to be in hot waters international pressures and the UN sanctions against Iran it is learnt.

If the project fails to materialize the government is considering to set up an LNG Terminal at Gwadar port as an alternative to Iran gas pipeline project which is being considered as the savior in the persisting energy crisis in the country.

Meanwhile Naim Sharafat, MD SSGC in a briefing to the members of the Senate Committee on Wednesday has said an LNG terminal will be set up in Gwadar to allow re-gasified LNG to the system if Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project is hampered due to sanction on Tehran.

It may be mentioned that the Senate Standing Committee for Petroleum and Natural Resources was given a comprehensive presentation on the status of the Iran-Pakistan Pipeline project by the officials of Interstate Gas Systems. This was the first Senate Committee meeting held at SSGC since Iran and Pakistan inked the historic agreement.

pak observer dot net

daily jang

daily express

Baloch people have expectations from Gwadar Port: Raisani

* Balchistan CM says two fish harbours at Sur-Bandar and Pishukan will be constructed

Staff Report

QUETTA: The Baloch people have great expectations from the country's first deep-sea port at Gwadar, Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Nawab Aslam Raisani said on Wednesday.

The Balochistan CM made these remarks while presiding over a briefing on the problems being faced regarding the operation of the Gwadar Port at the Ministry of Ports and Shipping. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader said that until the port was non-functional and underutilised, its full economic potential could not be achieved. Raisani said that the local population of Gwadar had suffered a lot, as their fishing activities were affected due to the construction of the port. "The local fishing community had been witnessing a substantial decrease in their fish catch, as the port area had been a breeding point for various fish varieties," the Balochistan CM said. He told the meeting that in order to solve the problems of the fishermen, the Balochistan government had started the construction of two alternate fish harbours at Sur-Bandar and Pishukan while the initial proposals of these projects had been sent to the Planning Commission for approval. The PPP leader expressed reservations on the performance of the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), which had leased the port for 40 years.

Raisani said that the Balochistan government was not happy with the contract, which was signed between the federal government and the PSA. He expressed the desire that the provincial government should operate the port itself.

daily times

Assad

I am not surprised that the funds are not iven for Gwadar Chaman Road. What's new about politicians, they just do lip service. Whay is that Baluchaistan Ministers do not see Prime Minister/President to push to get the money. NHA probably is thinking ways how to gobble up the money themselves.

Agriculture minister asserts that funds allocated for Baloch road links are utilised elsewhere

================================================================

Balochistan Assembly proceedings were suspended for 15 minutes on Tuesday when a number of provincial ministers staged a walk-out to protest against the alleged non-payment of funds by the federal government.

The speaker of the Balochistan Assembly suspended proceedings when lawmakers walked out of the session, saying the federal government and the National Highway Authority had not paid the funds they had promised Balochistan for the construction of certain highways

The minister for agriculture, Assad Baloch, raised the issue on a point of order, saying the government had allocated funds to build a road from Gwadar to Chaman when the Gwadar Port was established.

“A port is useless without a communication network,” he said.

He added that the Gwadar port was supposed to be connected to Chaman, a town bordering Afghanistan, but the road from Gwadar to Chaman via Panjgur had not been built for more than four years.

tribune.com.pk

Balochistan to buy all shares of Gwadar Port

* Provincial finance minister says his govt also buying significant number of shares of OGDCL
* Eyes Rs 45billion annual revenue after installation of refinery at Reko Dik

By Mohammad Zafar

QUETTA: The Balochistan government is planning to buy all shares of Gwadar Port in order to secure full control of the strategic installation, Finance Minister Asim Kurd said while addressing a post-budget briefing at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday.

The minister said the government would buy the shares from the Singapore Port Authority and the National Logistics Cell and would also ask the federal government to help Balochistan take full control of the Gwadar deep sea port.

OGDCL: Kurd said that the government had allocated Rs 12 billion for investments in the Saindak and Reko Dik projects and for buying significant shares of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).

He said the provincial government had established the Balochistan Investment Board for attracting foreign investors and the chief minister would chair the board himself and oversee its operations. “Highly professional people will be recruited to the BIB,” Kurd said.

He said Rs 1 billion had been allocated for the mining industry to build a refinery for separating gold from copper and other metals.

Earning: Kurd said the provincial government could earn as much as Rs 45 billion annually from the project in a few years once it becomes fully functional.

Presently, the minister said the blister copper was being taken to China where it was refined and the government of Balochistan was unaware of how much gold was being produced from Saindak.

He was of the view that by establishing refineries at the metal mining sites at Reko Dik and Saindak projects, the government would provide jobs to hundreds of people. The minister said the biggest achievement of the government was getting the “best NFC Award” that provided a huge sum of resources to the province.

“Earlier, Balochistan was being denied its legitimate share from the divisible pool, as well as the right price of its natural gas,” Kurd added.

With regards to job opportunities, he said all 38,000 applicants would get jobs in due course of time. “It is our responsible to provide jobs to the educated youth in the province,” the minister said to a question.

He said the provincial government would make efforts to provide jobs to 20,000 people during the next financial year with the cooperation of the federal government.

Kurd said Rs 30 million had been allocated for each MPA for their respective development programmes.

daily times

Oman to provide $45m grant for Gwadar development projects

* Another US$20 million earmarked for preservation and maintenance of Gwadar Fort
By Mohammad Zafar

QUETTA: The Sultanate of Oman has agreed to provide a grant of $45 million for a number of development projects in Gwadar District, along with another $20 million for the preservation and maintenance of the Gwadar Fort, to serve as a museum.

This was announced by the Oman Ambassador HE Mohammad bin Said Mohammad Al Lawati, during a meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani, held in Islamabad. The grant was announced by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said during his last visit to Gwadar.

Unde residential quarters for r it a 50-bed hospital along with allied facilities, including doctors, nurses and paramedics; furniture, equipments, ambulances and staff vans will be constructed at Pasni, the second biggest town of Gwadar.

There are also three other projects, including construction of blacktop roads. A 54 kilometre-road from Nagore Sharif to Suntsar, a 15 kilometre-road from Chib Rikani to Coastal Highway, and a 7.3 kilometres and 11.3 kilometres roads from Nallaint to Kappar and Tak Village (Ormara) to Coastal Highway, respectively.

A scheme for laying parallel pipelines form Swali Gwarm to Pasni town would also be part of the uplift plan for the provision of drinking water to the people of the area, while the Quetta Electricity Supply Company (QESCO) had been assigned the task for linking the Pishukan, a tiny settlement on the Mekran coast with the main grid supplying power from Iran to Gwadar and other parts of the district.

Talking to the ambassador, Raisani expressed his gratitude to Sultan Qaboos for his generous assistance to the people of Gwadar. The ambassador said the grant was placed with the Omani Embassy, and was to be released after the Economic Affairs Division would initiate the withdrawal applications.

He said another grant of US$20 million had been earmarked for the preservation and maintenance of the Gwadar Fort, turning it into a cultural museum.

Raisani said the matter would be taken up with the Economic Affairs Division and the Ministry of Culture so that they can take the necessary action pertaining to both the grants announced by the Omani government. It may be recalled that the modalities for the Omani grant had been agreed upon during the sixth session of a joint ministerial commission held at Islamabad on March 2.

Minister of State and Finance and Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Mohammad bin Nasser Al Khasibi, secretary general ministry of national economy, Sultanate of Oman, had signed the agreement.

www.dailytimes.com.pk

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) rejected on Tuesday proposals to increase by 25 per cent transportation charges for 400,000 tons of urea imported through Gwadar port and to double sales tax on sugar.

The meeting, presided over by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, strongly criticised the ministry of industries for using a few selected companies to transport urea from Gwadar to upcountry in violation of Pakistan Public Procurement Authority (PPRA) rules and sought a complete report before the next ECC meeting.

The ministry of industries had requested the ECC to increase transportation charges of imported urea from Gwadar by more than 25 per cent to Rs96.20 per bag. The government has decided to import about 400,000 tons of urea for the current Kharif season from friendly countries through Gwadar port.

for full story plz visit dawn.com

Pakistan: Officials Prepare Rs 518.559 Million for Port Development

The government has allocated an amount of Rs.518.559 million for ongoing schemes of Ports and Shipping Division under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2010-11.

As per details of the allocation for different projects, the government has allocated an amount of Rs.69.964 million for Gwadar Port Civic Centre. The total cost of the project is Rs.199.730 million and so far Rs 136.540 million has been spent till June 2010.

The budgetary document released here on Saturday reveals that Rs 200.411 have been allocated for ‘Construction of Eastbay Expressway’ to link Gwadar port with national road network. The total cost of the project is Rs.6274.000 million and so far Rs.12.922 million has been spent till June.

Rs.248.184 million has been allocated for maintenance of dredging of Gwadar port in ongoing scheme as mentioned in PSDP.

The total cost of the project is Rs 350.000 million and so far amount Rs 48.400 million has been spent till June 2010.

The federal government has allocated Rs 81.084 million for three ongoing projects of ministry of Postal Services under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the year 2010-11.

According to PSDP budgetary document released here on Saturday, Rs.27.618 million have been proposed for the establishment of Counter Automation at Pakistan Post and Rs 14.693 million for the transport for mail/cash/ conveyance/ visits inspections.

The government has proposed Rs 38.773 million for construction, renovation and reconstruction of Post Offices and Postal Operations and residential building.

The total cost of all these projects has been estimated at Rs 1159.174 million, however Rs 81.084 million have been allocated under for the schemes in the PSDP 2010-11.

Naval chief for debate on Gwadar Port’s potential 

KARACHI: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir has said that Indian Ocean is an important trade region as 33 percent of the world’s total fuel passes through this sea route.

Speaking at the Karachi Institute of International Affairs (KIIA) here on Tuesday, he said the ships, which have so far arrived at Gwadar Port, are result of the subsidy provided by the Government of Pakistan.

He urged the need for holding a debate at the KIIA to explore the true potential of Gwadar Port.

“Although it is good to think about big things, but first electricity crisis and other challenges need to be addressed,” he said.

Interacting with media, the naval chief condemned the deadly Israeli raid on Freedom flotilla.

“India is preparing more than its defense needs, he said, terming it a matter of concern.” SAMAA TV

Gwadar Port Purely a Commercial Port, Pak Navy Paying for Using Gwadar Port: Admiral Nauman Bashir 

Allocation for the Ports and Shipping Ministry for the new financial year is Rs 630 million for the two ongoing schemes, and there will be no foreign loan component of it. The schemes are: the Gwadar Port Civic Centre, Gwadar, and construction of Eastbay Expressway to link the Gwadar Port with the National Road Network. For the Communication Ministry, the allocation is Rs 56,082 million for the NHA, whereas Rs 11,170 million is for new schemes and projects.

the news

Opp walks out from Senate over Gwadar port’s non-functioning

ISLAMABAD: Opposition members in Senate walked out from the House on Tuesday in protest against the non-functioning of the Gwadar deep seaport.

Baloch Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo, on a point of order, said the previous government had spent Rs 225 billion on the construction of the port but that had resulted in ‘zero output’. He said the port has not been functioning due to the lack of a communications network. Bizenjo termed it a ‘great financial loss’ for the economy of Balochistan and the country at large. He was of the view that the port could not become functional until it is linked with other major cities. After this, Bizenjo staged a token walkout and opposition members as well as other senators from Balochistan followed suit. app

daily times

Chinese companies have poured at least $15 billion into Baloch projects: an oil refinery, copper and zinc mines and a deepwater port at Gwadar, in the Gulf of Oman.

"They wanted Gwadar to be another Dubai," says Khurram Abbas, the port's managing director, "to capture the transit trade with countries that are landlocked, like Afghanistan, and to encourage transshipment trade from the Persian Gulf to East Africa."

China's Tianjin Zhongbei Harbor Engineering has invested $200 million to build the first three berths and plans to invest a total of $1.6 billion to expand the port in the future. But business at Gwadar has been slow. Though the three berths have the capacity to handle $2 billion worth of cargo a year, the port saw only $700 million in 2009. "The challenge," says Abbas, "is that Gwadar is not yet linked to the rest of the country. The government was supposed to provide road connectivity. Without roads there can be no commercial activity [in Balochistan]. And we need commercial activity, investors to set up factories around Gwadar, to get cargo for the port."

China is taking matters into its own hands, starting to build a highway from Gwadar to the capital of Balochistan, Quetta, on the Afghan border, where it will connect to Pakistan's national highway network, and from there to the Karakoram Highway that leads into China. China's Harbor Engineering Corps is also working on a new airport at Gwadar, due to open in 2013.

SHC grants stay in urea handling case at Gwadar Port

KARACHI: Two stevedores on Friday won a stay order from the Sindh High Court, allowing them to discharge urea from ships reaching Gwadar Port till the next hearing on May 13.

The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has awarded the contract to Port of Singapore Authority Gwadar to offload urea as against urea handling contract given to the two stevedores, Port Star and Waqar & Co, for one year, which ends on July 31.

Currently, merchant vessel Tala is docked at Gwadar and Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) is offloading 26,000 tons of urea from the vessel.

Waqar Haider Zaidi, proprietor, Waqar & Co, told The News that his company got the contract after the pre-qualification and tendering process on the lowest rate of Rs798 per ton.

The PSA was not part of the tendering process that the two companies went through to win the urea handling rights at the Gwadar Port, he said.

“The Rs798 per ton bid included Rs40 per ton royalty of PSA Gwadar, income tax, sales tax, etc, and after these deductions, we are left with Rs699 per ton.”

The TCP gave the contract for offloading urea from MV Tala to PSA for Rs725 per ton without any pre-qualification, or any tendering process, Zaidi said, adding that the port authority does not have to pay royalty.

A senior official of the PSA Gwadar told The News that the stevedores are based in Karachi and they don’t have the licence from the Gwadar port authorities to provide stevedore services.

PSA, in 2008, had allowed the TCP to award tenders to their pre-qualified contractors for one specific contract of import of commodities and not for the urea. The stevedores have acquired the tender without informing that they don’t have the licence of the Gwadar Port.

Anjum Bashir, Chairman, TCP, told the News that the contract awarded to PSA was in line with the rules and regulations. The authority has a concession agreement, according to which, they have the right to issue stevedoring licence.

The issue with the two stevedores is that they don’t have a licence from the Gwadar Port to provide services, Bashir said.

He said that PSA had approached the TCP for stevedoring services, as they have signed a concession agreement with the Ports and Shipping Ministry. The TCP followed all the rules and regulations and also took clearance from the PPRA and before awarding the contract to PSA consulted the Ports and Shipping Ministry, the TCP chief said.

Previously, PSA was not equipped for stevedoring services, but it has installed all equipment for it and now they want to do cargo handling.

However the TCP chairman said that whatever the decision of the court comes, discharge of urea should not be stopped because it is for sowing of Kharif crops, including rice and cotton. If litigation delays urea supply, the vital cash crops of Kharif will suffer and the urea will be of no use if it is made available after the lapse of sowing days for rice and cotton.

the news

PSA unable to construct dirty cargo terminal

KARACHI - The Master Plan of Gwadar port does not allow its operator Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) to construct any terminal for dirty cargo at the port.
The Nation has learnt that according to the Master Plan of the Gwadar port, the construction of shipyard, dirty cargo and oil city could be built only in Sur Bandar area which is some 20 kilometers away from Gwadar port.

So, the government’s reportedly decision of allowing PSA to construct a multi-purpose terminal for ore and coal berths at the Gwadar Port, with an estimated cost of $130 million, is surely against the Master Plan of the port.
The sources informed that PSA has failed to bring any ship to the port since 15th January this year which shows its inability to run the port efficiently, therefore, the decision of the government to let PSA construct a terminal is unhealthy one.
It has been reported that PSA has started work on the project and officials of the authority are preparing results for channel testing being done recently while soil survey and testing will likely to be completed in around two months.
Taking the poor efficiency of the operator as it has failed to bring any investment and business to the port in more than 2 years, this move of the government would surely get bounced in the coming years, sources added.

the nation

Gwadar Port to boost country’s economy: Raisani      

ISLAMABAD, Apr 20 (APP): Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani has said that the fully operational Gwadar Port would play a major role in boosting country’s economy.

Nawab Raisani expressed these views while presiding over a high level meeting to discuss the modalities for transfer of 584 acres of naval land to the Gwadar Port Authority to make way for establishment of Containers Terminal and Free Trade Zone inside the port area.

He called upon the quarters concerned to take concrete measures for transfer of the required land to the Gwadar Port Authority at the earliest in order to expedite the development work at the proposed sites identified in the Gwadar Port Master Plan.

He said that the Gwadar Port once fully operational would not only cater to the needs of country’s imports and exports, especially bulk and containerized cargo but also provide transit facilities to the landlocked Central Asian Republics via Afghanistan.

Minister for Ports and Shipping, Babar Ghauri informed that the Gwadar Port Authority needed the naval land for making the port facilities functional including establishment of a modern containers terminal and areas for the Free Trade Zone.

APP

 Singapore firm to build terminal at Gwadar

KARACHI: The government has given a green light to the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) to construct a Multipurpose Terminal for ore and coal berths at the Gwadar Port, with an estimated cost of $130 million, it is learnt.

The authority has started work on the project, as officials of the authority are preparing results for channel testing being done recently. Soil survey and testing will likely to be completed in around two months.

The design and construction of the berths, likely to take two-three years, will be undertaken once the initial work is completed, sources said.

These berths will boost minerals export and help generate more revenue for the country. It will also help develop Balochistan, which has large mineral reserves.

Gwadar will serve as the most feasible port for exports, as compared to other ports of the country due to its strategic location and the lack of traffic congestion.

Earlier, Tethyan Copper Company was awarded exploration licence of the Reko Dig copper mine and once these projects start their operations, not only the port will get a boost, but the people of the area will get employment, said an official.

Experts are of the opinion that the fate of Gwadar Port will dwindle until or unless major issues, such as connectivity of the Gwadar Port to other parts of the country, release of land under the possession of Pakistan Navy and coast guards, construction of roads and infrastructure are not resolved.

“Sixty per cent work on the Gwadar-Ratodero road has been completed, but structural work is still in progress. Work on other link roads are also under progress, including Link road N-85 that connects Gwadar to Panjgur, said National Highway Authority official.

Poor law and order in the province remains the main reason for delay in linking the port with other parts of the country, sources said, adding that the highway authority has diverted funds to other projects. It seems that the Gwadar-Ratodero project will not complete even during the current year.

Last month, National Assembly and Senate’s standing committees on ports and shipping held a joint session in Gwadar to resolve the issues pertaining to the port operations, said the official.

Under a concession agreement signed with the Port of Singapore in February 2007, the official said, the government had to hand over 923 hectares of land on lease to the Singaporean firm by June 2008 for the development of a free zone, but transfer of land under the possession of Pakistan Navy and the Coast Guards, needed to develop free zone for the facilities at East Bay of Gwadar, has still not been done.

“Without acquisition of this land, the Singaporean firm will be unable to develop offices, residential facilities, etc,” the official said.

However, an official of the Ports and Shipping Ministry said that negotiations are underway with the officials of the Defence Ministry for resolution of the issue and, in this regard, the government has also offered an alternative land to the Navy in Pishukan.

the news

China Offers Assistance to Develop Coast Line Besides Gwadar, Offers to Operate Gwadar Port if PSA Quits

Gwadar airport to cost Rs 7.6bn, Mukhtar tells Senate

* Rehman Malik says DNA database being set up to aid security agencies’ investigations

ISLAMABAD: Senate was informed on Wednesday that the new Gwadar International Airport is being constructed at the cost of RS 7.6 six billion and work will be completed within three years.

Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar made this statement during the question hour in the House, adding that the federal government has allocated Rs 750 million for the project.

for full story visit daily times

not trust on babar ghauri. All have knew. So mr assad, dont post his un-trustfull person's massages.

China interested in Gwadar Port development work

KARACHI - Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Babar Khan Ghauri has said that government is going to construct 3 new births at Gwadar port, while China has shown her interest in the developing works at Gwadar port. He was talking to the media after inaugurating the construction of marine protection and quay wall works of the Deep Water Container Port at Karachi Port today.
He said China has also shown interest in developing different projects in various sectors like ports, roads, communication etc. however the projects at KPT would be completed in 2 years’ time and a straight quay length of 1,500 meters will provide four berths of 375 meters length each.

He said that Karachi Port is central to the scheme and that with existing good roads and rail facilities further extended on completion of the new port, there would be greater clearance and connectivity with hinterland. The initiation of construction of marine protection and quay walls works, in the second phase, underlines the speedy ongoing work of the project along with the ongoing dredging and reclamation works.
Vice Minister for Transport, Peoples Republic of China, Xu Zuyuan, Speaking on the occasion said that as an Asian developing country, China sees the development of Pakistan with great interest.
He said that Chinese people feel profound pleasure when Pakistan treads on the path of progress and development. He said that construction of Deep Water Container Port is in the national interest of Pakistan and that construction of marine protection and quay wall are significant steps taken by Pakistan to make the new port a reality.

daily nation

Pakistan to welcome Chinese involvement in Gwadar projects: Gilani

ISLAMABAD, Mar 29 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan attaches very high significance to the Chinese role in Gwadar and would welcome its involvement in the long and short term projects of the area.The Prime Minister stated that his government wanted expeditious completion of Gwadar port and development of its hinterland by putting in place the road, rail and air services related infrastructure.Pakistan he said also wants establishment of an economic zone and development of tourist resorts in Gwadar area on priority basis.The Prime Minister was talking to Xu Zuyuan, Vice Minister of Transport of China who along with his delegation called on him at the Prime Minister Secretariat on Monday afternoon.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan would hence forth welcome engagement of the Chinese government and invited the Chinese companies to invest in the Gwadar port and its infrastructure development related projects.
The Prime Minister appreciated the contribution of Chinese Company “China Harbour” in construction of the first phase of Gwadar Port and its present involvement in construction of Quay Wall and Break Water (Marine Protection Works) to develop Deep Water Container Terminal in Karachi.

This project is scheduled to be inaugurated on March 30 during Chinese Vice Minister’s visit.
The Prime Minister also hoped that both countries would fast track the ongoing negotiations for undertaking of projects like up-gradation of Karakoram Highway, establishment of transportation linkages between Pakistan and Afghanistan, upgradation of Rail link between Pakistan and Turkey and Chinese participation in Iran-Pakistan (IP) and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) gas pipelines.
The Prime Minister while dilating upon excellent relations between Pakistan and China, matured over the decades into a comprehensive Strategic Partnership, stated that Pakistan will never allow any extraneous factor to affect these exemplary ties.
He applauded the valuable contributions of the Chinese entrepreneurs and workers for the economic development of Pakistan.
His Government, he said, was according the highest priority to the security of Chinese nationals facilitating their safe and secure stay in the country in order to complete their projects smoothly and without hindrance.
The Prime Minister also reiterated Pakistan’s strict adherence to one China policy whereby Pakistan considered Taiwan a province of China and Tibet as its inalienable part.
He also reaffirmed his Government’s fullest cooperation with China in countering and defeating the threat of terrorism,  being faced by both the countries.
Xu Zuyuan, Vice Minister of Transport of China conveyed Chinese Premier’s best wishes to the Prime Minister and commended Government of Pakistan’s assistance to the Chinese companies by provision of adequate security to their personnel undertaking about 120 ongoing projects in various fields.
He lauded Prime Minister’s vision for the development of infrastructure in Pakistan and agreed that the infrastructure was the lifeline for economic development of any country.
He assured the Prime Minister that he would convey Prime Minister’s proposals in this regard to the Chinese leadership.
Xu Zuyuan said that undertaking of development of Gawadar port and the related infrastructure will be the second landmark project between the two countries after the construction of Karakoram Highway.
He added that his side would positively consider participation in the development plan for Gwadar as well as the railways, road and air connectivity vision of Pakistan with China-Afghanistan and Turkey via Iran.

Assad

It is nice to post all the verbal information politicians are giving. Where acan we find out who has been retained for design for this rail line, what kind of modern tehnology is going to be incorporated in the design and construction of the rail line (IS IT STILL GOING TO BE 1940 TECHNOLOGY OR 2010 TECHNOLOGY). Nine years is too long time to complete the project. Whay is the government not breaking the project into eight or nine segmeenst are retain that many contractors to simutaneously work on different sections thus cutting time into 3 to 4 years to complete the project. ANYONE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT EXPEDITING THE PROJECTS I CAN BE OF FREE HELP TO THEM. IN USA WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON FREEWAY PROJECTS WHERE REHABILITATION OF FREEWAYS AND WE WORK 54 HOURS SHIFTS AND REHABILITATE WITH CONCRETE PAVEMENT WHERE SECTION IS REPLACED OVER THE WEEK END AND OPENED FOR TRAFFIC BY MONDAY MORNING SO AS NOT TO CAUSE ANY TRAFFIC DELAYS. Government should get (BDO) baSIS and let the design contractor arrange investment money. There are so many companies (MOST NOTABLY CHINESE COMPANIES WHO HAVE MONEY AND RESOURCES TO BDO). (CHINESE COMPANY MOST RECEENTLY WON 4.5 BILLION DOLLARS CONTRACT IN INDONESIA FOR RAIL LINE AND ARE AMONGST MANY THEY ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON) People have to convince the goverment that they do not have to spend huge sums of money to get the projets done for the good of people. When I read how the roads and freeways are built and get damaged after few seasons of service you feel sorry for people of Pakistan who are incurring so much debt and not get what they are paying for. Unless some one who has his/her heart and mind to uplift the country on fast track nothing is going to change. I do not understand that so much aid is coming to Pakistan for development why is that people are not getting what the goverment is paying for in terms of QUALITY. LOOK AROUND OTHER COUNTRIES WHO HAVE HAD INDEPENDENCE LATER THAN PAKISTAN THEY HAVE DEVEOPLED THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS INDUSTRY WAY BETTER THAT US.

daily intekhab

One Respectable Overseas Pakistani just visited Gwadar, being kind enough, shared his observations with me and allowed me to make that public.

So I am putting it (copy paste) here in his own words.Comments & Suggestions are welcome.
 
"My recent visit during 11 March - 14 March 2010 to Gawadar can be summarised as follows:

As a result of my personal observation and interviews with GDA staff, Govt. seems to be keenly persuing development projects announced earlier for Gawadar. 
I observed / learnt from local residents that construction work is underway on High court building, chief minister house, Gawadar grand mosque, Gawadar central park.  According to my local guide, Gawadar's new international airport which is located at a distance of 35km from Gawadar, will be completed in a period of 3-6 months.
New Town phase-1 and 2 are experiencing the most concentration in terms of construction and business however, prices of plots are higher in these phases compared to phase 3 and 4.

First phase of the main Gwader hospital is over.
Main sports complex has been completed.
Desalination plan for Sangar is under completion.
During my travel by air Karach-Gawadar, I observed that professionals from various fields were on board the craft apparently working on projects like education etc.."

بلوچستان کا اراضی کی واپسی کا مطالبہ

بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام ، اسلام آباد

بلوچستان حکومت نے پاکستان بحریہ سے تقریباً چھ سو ایکڑ اراضی فوری واپس کرنے کا مطالبہ کیا ہے تاکہ گوادر پورٹ ماسٹر پلان میں شامل تجارتی زون قائم کیا جاسکے۔

سرکاری ذرائع کے مطابق وزیر اعلیٰ بلوچستان نواب محمد اسلم خان رئیسانی نے اس بابت وزیر اعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی سے رابطہ کیا ہے اور وسیع تر قومی مفاد میں اس اراضی کو جلد از جلد گوادر پورٹ اتھارٹی کے حوالے کرنے کا تقاضہ کیا ہے۔

وزیر اعظم نے گزشتہ برس دسمبر میں گوادر کے دورے کے دوران پانچ سو چوراسی ایکڑ اراضی کے اس قضیے کے حل کے لیے وزیر اعلیٰ بلوچستان کی سربراہی میں کمیٹی تشکیل دی تھی۔ گوادر بندرگاہ کی مشرقی جانب یہ اراضی پاکستانی بحریہ کے زیر استعمال ہے۔

گوادر بندرگاہ کی منصوبہ بندی کرنے والے ماہرین نے اس اراضی پر کنٹینر ٹرمینل کے لیے مختص کیا تھا۔ اس وقت یہ فیصلہ ہوا تھا کہ پاکستان کوسٹ گارڈز، بحریہ اور قریبی نجی اراضی اس علاقے میں فری ٹریڈ زون کے قیام کے لیے سنگاپور پورٹ اتھارٹی کو دی جائے گی۔

اس سے قبل بلوچستان میں بورڈ آف ریونیو نے پاکستان بحریہ کو تین مختلف متبادل مقامات پر اراضی فراہم کرنے کی پیشکش کی تھی۔ تاہم وزارت دفاع نے تکنیکی وجوہات کی بنا پر تینوں مقامات کو مسترد کر دیا تھا۔

سرکاری خبررساں ادارے اے پی پی کے مطابق وزیر اعظم کی جانب سے اس قضیے کے حل کے لیے قائم کمیٹی میں وزیر دفاع، وزیر برائے بندگاہ اور جہاز رانی، وزیر صعنت و پیداوار، سیکرٹری دفاع اور دیگر حکام کے علاوہ گوادر پورٹ اتھارٹی کے افسران شامل ہیں۔ اس کمیٹی کی سربراہی وزیر اعلیٰ بلوچستان کر رہے ہیں۔

گزشتہ دنوں وزارت بندرگاہ و جہاز رانی نے اس کمیٹی کا اجلاس جلد طلب کرنے کی درخواست بھی کی تھی تاکہ گوادر بندرگاہ کو جلد از جلد مکمل طور پر فعال کیا جاسکے۔ امید ہے کہ جمیٹی کا ایک اجلاس جلد اسلام آباد میں منعقد ہو۔

یہ اراضی انیس سو اسی میں حکومت بلوچستان نے پاکستانی نیوی کو انتہائی کم قیمت یعنی ایک سو اسی روپے فی ایکڑ کے حساب سے ملکیتی بنیاد پر دی تھی۔ تاہم پاکستان نیوی اس اراضی کو تیس برس میں بھی قابل استعمال نہیں لاسکی ہے۔

CDWP approves 74 projects worth Rs 510.2 bln

Sixteen projects of transport and communication sector with a total cost of Rs 56.6 billion including mainly projects of Gwadar Deep Sea Water Port, Extension of M-4, Rehabilitation of Rasheed Wagon-Nasirabad Roads, Karachi Transport Improvement Projects, Kolpur Bypass and Bridge Across River Swan linking Attock and Chakwal were approved.

APP

Assad it is nice to talk about friends like China but government should seriously look at whay the project linking these area cannot be completed at an expedited manner so Pakistan and people of Balochistan can realize the economic benefit of China utilizing this route. I am sorry but reading what is going on in Pakistan where there is suicide bomber everyday and comparing it with India who just yesterday signed deal for upto 10 nuclear reactors with Russia. The reason people are giving so much technology and money is so that India can be a balancing power toChina. It is all politics and unless our government move full speed ahead with the economic development of Pakistan and its industries nothing will change. We can blame everyone else for Pakistan's woes we reallly need to do soul searching what is been done wrong that we are in such a bad situation economically.

Assad

When is Govt going to take all these losses to national money seriously and look into why someone does not want Gwadar to succed. When I read all these news here you wonder whay nothing can survive and work well for the good of people and good of country. What a tragedy for Balochaistan people and pakistan government.

Port equipments rusting at Gwadar

By: Waqar Hamza | Published: March 11, 2010

KARACHI - The port equipments at Gwadar port comprise of portal, gantry, rubber tyre gantry and mobile cranes including empty container stackers, flat bed trucks, forklifts etc. have been found in rusting condition.
The Nation has learnt that the said equipments at Gwadar Port, having been handed over to Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), are rusting by dint of negligence and to be completely damaged soon, as the Prudent Terminal Practice is ignored in entirety.
Moreover, the refrigerated container stacking facility, which is one of the first kinds at any Pakistani port, is rusting away including power sockets that got damaged, while the power generator from one of the rubber tyred gantry cranes is dismantled and placed ashore for port lighting, thus rendering the RTG useless.
Sources informed that PSAI was given 2 tug boats, 2 pilot boats and 1 mooring boat for marine operations by Gwadar Port Authority (GPA), and the current poor condition of pilot boats, including mooring boat, is least expected negligence from the port operator of international repute, PSA Gwadar.
In addition the said crafts are rusting away with broken/damaged navigational lights, and daily/weekly maintenance is hardly being done for several months, sources added.
The sources further informed that PSA Gwadar was also handed over the desalination plant of 100,000 gallons per day in running condition for port daily use and supplying of potable water to ships, but that plant too is lying idle for the last several months due to some technical fault.
It is pertinent to mention that China Harbor and Engineering Company had installed 3 power generators each of 1.5 MW to efficiently run the port machinery and office building requirements.
And on installation of 2 extra gantry cranes by PSA Gwadar, extra backup power installation was required in case of normal power failure, but no action has been taken for back-up power, sources informed.
The marine experts say that it is normal in most cases that a single gantry crane while lifting a loaded container requires minimum power of 1 to 1.2 MW, and once the container is lifted the power requirement falls to few hundred KV.
So, the said explanation is only to say that in case 3 ships including one medium size container ship utilising both the gantry cranes, sufficient power will not be available for the portal cranes if they are being used for other 2 ships.

daily nation

Govt urged to link Gwadar port with rail, road networks

The Gwadar port has not been connected with national road and rail networks which is the main hurdle in making the port fully functional.

There is also a shortage of skilled labour which necessitates technical training for the youth. - File photo

QUETTA: The standing committees of Senate and National Assembly on shipping and ports have suggested to the government to link the Gwadar port with main highways and rail and road networks.

A joint meeting of the committees held in Gwadar on Friday and Saturday reviewed various suggestions for developing the Gwadar port and making it fully functional.

Members of the committees observed that despite completion of the first phase, the port had not been connected with national road and rail networks, saying it was the main hurdle in making the port fully functional.

They observed that skilled labour was not available in Gwadar because there was no facility in the area for technical training.

They said that local people should be given priority in jobs and youths of Gwadar and Makran division should be given scholarship for training in technical institutions of Punjab and Sindh.

They also recommended completion of Gwadar international airport on a war footing and said the port city should get uninterrupted 24-hour power supply.

The meeting observed that workers in the Gwadar port were getting less as salary than workers of Karachi and Bin Qasim ports. The members urged the government to bring their salary structure and facilities at part with those working in other ports.

It was decided that members of both the committees would meet the prime minister soon to inform him about the situation in Gwadar and present their recommendations.

The chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee, Rana Mehmoodul Hasan, said that all possible steps would be taken to make Gwadar port fully functional.

daily dawn

Salient features to enhance transport policy in PSDP      

ISLAMABAD, Jun 11 (APP): The government will undertake certain steps to improve its transport and communication policy under the Public Sector Development Programme allocations.

A major step under the NTC initiative, is the restructuring of Pakistan Railways on commercial lines.

Railways Business Plan is being prepared and a professional CEO would be appointed to run the Railways. Seven fast freight trains have already been introduced from Karachi to Lahore/Faisalabad and back.

The other important initiatives include finalization of track access policy for private sector and outsourcing of container transportation.

An allocation of Rs 11.3 billion has been made for 2008-09.  Works on track rehabilitation of Pakistan Railway network, procurement of 69 DE locos, procurement/manufacture of 625 passenger coaches, procurement of 2300 bogie high capacity wagons, rehabilitation of 450 passenger coaches, recommissioning of 55 stabled DE locos, doubling of track on Lodhran-Raiwind sections, Damages to Railway Assets during riots in December 2007, and other on-going projects would continue.

Procurement/manufacture of 75 DE locomotives, 150 passenger coaches, construction of railway line and container terminal at Gwadar to provide up-country linkages, setting up of a PMU in the ministry, modern signaling Lodhran -Khanewal to Shahdra would be started.

A Ports master plan study, defining the roles of Karachi Port, Port Qasim and the Gwadar Port would be prepared.

The Business Plans of the three ports would be completed.  A project monitoring unit which has been established within the Ministry of Ports and Shipping will undertake a study to identify the existing bottlenecks in efficient operation of ports and recommend phase-wise improvements required at the ports.

Outsourcing of container and other terminals at the ports is also planned. Land acquisition process for free zone at Gwadar will also be initiated. The closure of Karachi Dockyard Labour Board (KDLB) at the Karachi Port is also envisaged.

An allocation of Rs 372 million has been made to complete the balance works on the Gwadar Deep Sea Port Project, initiate works for acquisition of land for construction of East Bay expressway at Gwadar, land for Free Trade Zone and the Oil City.

Work on construction/supply of two floating pontoons for fish harbour will also be started.

An allocation of Rs 36.5 billion has been made for the national highways programme. Main thrust of the programme is aimed at the acceleration of work on the rehabilitation and dualization of National Highway (N-5) on different sections, left over work on Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1), Makran Coastal Road, Layari Expressway, Islamabad-Muzaffarabad Road (N-75), Mansehra Naran-Jalkhad and Jhalkhad -Chilas Road, Nutal-Sibi-Dhadar Section (N-65), Ratodero-Shahdadkot-Khuzdar Road, Qilla Saifuliah-Loralai-Bewata Section of (N-70), D.l.Khan-Mughalkot Section (N-50), Realignment of N-65 near Dera Allahyar and Jaccobabad and Bridge on River Jhelum at Azad Pattan, Lowari Tunnel, Gwadar Ratodero Road (Khuzdar-Khori, Ratodero-Quba  Saeed   Khan  &  Gwadar- Turbat),  Hoshab-Panjgur-Nag-Baseema-Surab (450 Km long section) and the remaining portion of the Indus Highway (N-55) (Sehwan-Dadu, Dadu-Larkana, Rajanpur-D.G.Khan and Malana Junction-Sarai Gambila Sections). In addition, work will be initiated on the improvement of N-65 from Jaccobabad Bypass to Shikarpur, Quetta-Kalat-Chaman road, the National Highway Development Sector program and NWFP Road Sector program and Rehabilitation / Improvement / Widening of KKH (Raikot - Khunjrab section, 335 km) and designing work on east west road improvement project (34 km Gajj - Bewatla section of N-70) under JBIC Soft loan. Procurement of land is planned for Expressway from Faisalabad to Khanewal (E-4) as well its construction and land for Khanewal to Lodhran on southern side and on northern side land for Hassanabdal - Mansehra Expressway (E-35). Projects on Lodhran - Khanewal section of N-5, Peshawar Northern bypass, Lakpass Tunnel and Rawalpindi By-pass projects would be undertaken on BOT basis.

The projects will increase the total kilometrage of national highway network and contribute towards smooth and safe flow of vehicular traffic on the national highways network.

Development of a new expressway corridor in Phase-I being one of the vital components of the National Trade Corridor initiative, the route alignment of expressways would be finalized during the year.

Under Phase-II, a new motorway corridor on the west of Indus touching Balochistan would be developed as a long term measure. It is envisaged to develop industrial clusters, oil storage facilities and oil and gas pipelines along the proposed motorway and expressway corridors.

These initiatives would open up new vistas and avenues of trade with China, Central Asian Republics, India, Iran and even with Western countries. An allocation of Rs 41 million has been made for continuation of work related to Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Cell in M/o Communications.

The Cell would be instrumental in expediting the pace of work in the organizations working under M/o Communications, such as NHA, NH and MP, CMTI, NTRC and Post Offices.

An allocation of Rs 4.5 million has been made for continuation of research program and work on the Pakistan Transport Plan Study and National Transport Policy.

National Highway and Motorway Police is an effective organization working towards ensuring safety and smooth mobility on the national highways and motorways.

An allocation of Rs 100 million has been made for ongoing and new programs.

For T & C Sector, the Planning and Development Division has been allocated an amount of Rs 978 million for continuation of works under the NTC Management Unit and to start work on NTC Business Strategy Study through hiring international consultants and provision of CNG buses for Karachi city and other mega cities of the country on PPP basis.

An allocation of Rs 80 million has been made for the Trade & Transport Facilitation Unit to be established in the Ministry of Commerce.

An allocation of Rs 4.5 billion has been made for construction/improvement of 46 provincial and district roads in all the provinces including Sheikh Rasheed Expressway. These roads have been identified under the President/P.M directives.

An allocation of Rs 39 million has been made for continuation of work on construction of MSA Headquarters Building at Karachi.

An allocation of Rs 28 million has been made to complete the balance ongoing works for construction of barrack accommodations at airports i.e. Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, Gwadar, Quetta, Pasni, and Jaccobabd. Works on shifting of barracks at NIIA and Peshawar due to expansion of airport and Water connection to ASF camp at Karachi would also be undertaken.

An allocation of Rs 1.5 billion has been made for Installation of Ship Lift at Transfer System and Associated Machinery and Equipment to provide docking and repair facilities to Surface Ships, Submarines and Commercial Vessels of upto 4,000 Tonnage at the KSEW and setting up of a Project Management Cell for development of Ship Building industry in Pakistan and civil works for up-gradation of KSEW.

An allocation of Rs 750 million has been made for construction of New Gwadar International Airport to meet the requirement of wide bodied aircraft B-747.

APP

Italy to explore investments in Pakistan

Islamabad—Giuseppe Vegas, Vice Minister for Economy and Finance, Italy led by a six-member Italian delegation called on Saleem H. Mandviwalla, Minister of State/Chairman, Board of Investment here on Saturday and discussed ways and means to explore the business opportunities in Pakistan with the help of Board of Investment and market them to Italian investors.According to a statement issued by the BOI here, Vincenzo Prati, Ambassador of Italy in Islamabad also attended the meeting.

He welcomed the business interests of Italian side in Agriculture and Fisheries sectors of Pakistan. A detailed presentation was also made to the delegates on the investment climate and opportunities available in Pakistan. The delegation was pleased to know about the incentives offered to foreign investors in Pakistan. Vice Minister informed that Italian entrepreneurs are also interested in projects of Railways and Construction. He also emphasized to carry out joint research in fisheries sectors of coastal areas of Pakistan. Pakistani private sector emphasized on the export of Shrimps to Italy and Government of Balochistan informed that the water of Gawadar area is clean and environment friendly.

APP

daily intekhab Mar06, 2010

Automated port ops can change Pak destiny

 
ISLAMABAD - President Pakistan Computers Association (PCA) Munawar Iqbal on Tuesday said deep-sea port in Gwadar has the potential to become the main trade hub for this era.This brilliantly planned project having radically distinctive economic and strategic importance can change the destiny of Pakistan, he added.
Speaking at a meeting at the offices of PCA, Munawar Iqbal said Gwadar is located only 180 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz through which 40 percent of world’s oil passes, says a press release issued here on Tuesday.

“The port thus emerged as the key shipping hub in the area providing mass trade to central Asian republics as well as across Pakistan and China,” he said. He further said that large ports with huge cargo handling capacities could attract business community if efficient, modern and transparent customs services were made available.

“The efficiency, transparency and speed that has become available to Customs today through the Automated Customs system of PaCCS, was the only logically solution for Gwadar,” said Munawar Iqbal. He said that traditional systems would make cargo wait for days pending clearance, which will hamper development of this great project. “Serious choking of the port may take place if modern, electronic and automated systems were not used,” he warned adding that authorities should consider rolling out PaCCS beyond Karachi to as many customs stations as possible to enhance trade facilitation and to boost revenue collection.
He said restricting the benefits of PaCCS to only the port at Karachi was unfair to the traders of other areas of the country, he observed. Karachi port has transformed a once sleepy fishing village to a mega polis and we hope that Gwadar port will directly and indirectly bring lots of wealth, trade, and infrastructure advancement to the area, which has been traditionally left behind, in development.

Munawar Iqbal said that the multi-billion- rupee projects of Gwadar port and Rs 7.5 billion Gwadar Airport should be connected to the rest of the country through world class network and roads.
“These facilities should be fully automated so that importers as well as exporters can carry out business activities successfully and with peace of mind.
He said that capacity of 4,300-acre Gwadar airport should be increased to handle 1.5 million passengers and 70,000 tons of cargo a year.

Business community hope that political leadership will use their acumen to pacify negative feelings among some locals to get maximum advantage of the project, said Iqbal.

nation.com.pk

Meeting for Gwadar port held

GWADAR: A joint meeting of Standing Committees on Ports & Shipping of Senate & National Assembly members held for the first time in Gwadar reviewed measures to make Gwadar deep seaport in Balochistan that should be fully operational at the earliest.

Presided by the Chairman Senate Standing Committee, Senator Gulshan Saeed and the Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee, MNA Rana Naseer. It also discussed impediments including roads, rail link, electricity, and requisition of land in making Gwadar seaport functional.

The members of parliament stressed that construction of seaport should be carried out on urgent basis, with employment opportunities provided to local people as well as ensuring facilities of housing for staff and their families. ppi

daily times

Meanwhile, a Canadian-based Pakistani company led by its Chairman Lutfur Rahman also called on Raisani and apprised him of its activities, especially about oil and gas exploration and drilling. The company, registered with New York Stock Exchange, shown its interest for investment in oil and gas development in Balochistan. The chief minister said that Balochistan had earmarked hundreds of acres of land at Pasni in District Gwadar for setting up an 'Oil City' where refineries, petroleum products units and other allied installations would be allowed to be set up.

daily times

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

In this context, the IPI pipeline poses several risks and opportunities for Beijing. If India exited the pipeline, that would lessen Iran’s leverage to drive a hard bargain on gas prices. At the same time, as part of the overall strategy to build pipelines from Iran to China, or at least to Gwadar from where gas or oil could be shipped directly to China, Chinese participation would create a new overland energy link that could complement China’s energy diversification strategy.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DIG Pathan suggests that as a stop-gap measure, some of the troops from the pre approved beats of the N-10 Makran Coastal Highway be deployed on the Northern By-Pass till the beats are ready to take charge. Of the 13 beats approved on the Makran Coastal Highway, only three are operational on ground between Gwadar and Pasni. The rest cannot be immediately deployed for reasons like the reservation of Baluchistan on the recruitment quotas for federal departments operating in Baluchistan. Then there is the security issue in general in which is creating difficulties in operating even existing beats.

the news

Balochistan govt allocates land for oil city : Aslam Raisani      

ISLAMABAD, Mar 5 (APP): Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani Friday said the government had allocated hundreds of acres of land at Pasni in District Gwadar for setting up an ‘Oil City’ where refineries, petroleum products units and other allied installations would be established. The Chief Minister said this while talking to Lutfur Rehman, Chairman/Chief Executive of a Canadian based Pakistani company, who called on him, said a press release issued here.

The company registered with New York Stock Exchange has shown its interest for investment in oil and gas development in Balochistan.

He said the province had vast potential for generating power through windmills and invited them to explore this sector as the country was already facing a serious energy crisis.

Nawab Raisani also dispelled the impression that the law and order situation in the province not ideal for any investment.

He added that the people of Balochistan were far more enlightened and hospitable than those sitting at the helm of affairs somewhere else.

However, Raisani categorically declared that any such agreements signed during the past dictatorial regimes that undermined the interest of the people of Balochistan would be reviewed and further action would be taken accordingly.

He cited the example of Reko Diq and Saindak copper and gold projects through which the people of Balochistan had been deprived of their due share.

Nawab Raisani said the Balochistan government welcomed any positive proposals by the stakeholders but vehemently rejected any outside interference.

Meanwhile talking to a delegation of Turkish investors he assured provision of conducive environment to local and foreign investors for making investment in various sectors in the province.

The Turkish delegation was led by Mustafa Serdar, Chairman Ataseven Group and comprised Duran, Business Development, Commercial Attache of Turkish Embassy and Executive Director NFRD. Dr. Hasan Iftekhar, The Turkish delegation is visiting Islamabad prior to Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s forthcoming visit to Pakistan to further strengthen the brotherly relations between the two countries.

On the occasion the Turkish team informed the Chief Minister that the Ataseven Group was a leading Turkish company engaged in multiple ventures in various countries and in Pakistan it was working on joint venture with National Foundation for Resource Development (NFRD) in ‘Biomass’ forensic and construction sectors and were also dealing security related equipment and gadgets.

Mustafa Serdar also offered Turkey’s technical assistance and expertise to Balochistan through the federal government.

Nawab Aslam Raisani expressed his gratitude for such offer and said Balochistan was a resource-rich province where the plentiful mineral resources had not been fully exploited, which include copper, gold, silver, chromites and many other precious material.

The Chief Minister asked the delegation to send proposals in order to see which sectors to work in.

A delegation of a Dubai based Islamic bank led by its country head, Jawad Majid also called on Nawab Aslam Raisani and apprised him of bank’s activities in the province including opening of new branches in Gwadar, Quetta and other towns.

Nawab Raisani appreciated the bank’s interest in the province and said that the banking sector had great opportunities after the announcement of the NFC Award whereby massive scale uplift projects are likely to start in Balochistan.

APP

PSA fails to bring business to Gwadar

Published: March 05, 2010

KARACHI – The Standing Committees of Senate and National Assembly on Ports and Shipping have reached Gwadar to discuss the role of Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) and its non-commitment to follow the business plan in accordance with a working paper submitted to the ministry related to the poor performance of PSA.
It was learnt by TheNation that the Standing Committees of both the Senate and National Assembly held a meeting on Thursday evening at Gwadar to review the role of PSA and matters related to the land at Gwadar Port, while two joint sessions would be held in this regard under the respective chairpersons of both the Standing Committees Rana Mehmood-ul-Hasan and Mrs Gulshan Saeed.
The sources informed that last month the working paper on the overall performance of Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) was submitted to Ministry of Ports and Shipping by Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) asking the failures/short comings on part of GPA and PSAI to be first hand discussed in detail between the Ministry and GPA.
On the directives of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, the working paper was submitted by GPA related to the performance of PSA, the sources informed.
The paper suggested the Ministry to discuss the matters like failure in implementing of Concessions Agreement on part of PSAI; Failures in implementing of Concessions Agreement on part of GPA; Failures on part of PSA Gwadar for not observing Prudent Terminal Practices as advised/recommended by IMO/IAPH; Failures on part of PSAI for neglecting maintenance of port machinery/crafts etc.
Moreover, PSAI to submit the details of USD$ 34.3 million invested; the Concession document may be renegotiated and amended; deadline to PSAI for non-compliance with Concession Agreement; and deadline for making the port operational not to exceed 4 months should also be discusses at length.
The paper says the major bulk for non-compliance with the Agreement lies with PSAI for the above said reasons, whereas GPA has not complied for not providing land for Free Zone development.
In addition connectivity with the hinterland and power supply is debatable for reasons that PSAI had surveyed the area very well prior bidding conference, but establishing of Free Zone should not be directly related to port operations for base cargo etc, there are several hundred sea ports around the world operating without Free Zones.
However, road connectivity with the hinterland is not a major issue either as studying the proposed different routes provided by National Highway Authority will nullify the claim of PSAI, the paper added.

ref: daily nation

Gwadar to be main trade hub

Islamabad—President Pakistan Computers Association (PCA) Munawar Iqbal on Tuesday said deep-sea port in Gwadar has the potential to become the main trade hub for this era. This brilliantly planned project having radically distinctive economic and strategic importance can change the destiny of Pakistan.

Speaking at a meeting at the offices of PCA, Munawar Iqbal said that Gwadar is located only 180 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz through which 40 per cent of world’s oil passes. “The port thus emerge as the key shipping hub in the area providing mass trade to central Asian republics as well as across Pakistan and China,” he said.

He further said that large ports with huge cargo handling capacities can attract business community if efficient, modern and transparent customs services were made available.“The efficiency, transparency and speed that has become available to Customs today through the Automated Customs system of PaCCS, was the only logically solution for Gwadar,” said Munawar Iqbal.

He said that traditional systems would make cargo wait for days pending clearance, which will hamper development of this great project.“Serious choking of the port may take place if modern, electronic and automated systems were not used,” he warned adding that authorities should consider rolling out PaCCS beyond Karachi to as many customs stations as possible to enhance trade facilitation and to boost revenue collection.

He said restricting the benefits of PaCCS to only the port at Karachi was unfair to the traders of other areas of the country, he observed. Karachi port has transformed a once sleepy fishing village to a mega polis and we hope that Gwadar port will directly and indirectly bring lots of wealth, trade, and infrastructure advancement to the area, which has been traditionally left behind, in development.

Munawar Iqbal said that the multi-billion-rupee projects of Gwadar port and Rs 7.5 billion Gwadar Airport should be connected to the rest of the country through world class network and roads.“These facilities should be fully automated with PaCCS so that importers as well as exporters can carry out business activities successfully and with peace of mind.

He said that capacity of 4,300-acre Gwadar airport should be increased to handle 1.5 million passengers and 70,000 tons of cargo a year. Business community hope that political leadership will use their acumen to pacify negative feelings among some locals to get maximum advantage of the project, said Iqbal.—INP

pak observer

Oman to provide $45m for Gwadar airport

By Sajid Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Pak-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) has decided that Oman would provide $45 million grant for construction of Gwadar International Airport and other development projects.

This has been agreed in the 6th session of Pak-Oman JMC which concluded here on Tuesday. It has also been decided that Oman Oil Company will make investment of $19.4 million in Pakistan’s energy sector.

for full story visit daily times

Gwadar can change Pak’s destiny’

ISLAMABAD: President Pakistan Computers Association (PCA) Munawar Iqbal said Gwadar project having radically distinctive economic and strategic importance could change the destiny of Pakistan. While talking to the PCA member here on Tuesday he said deep seaport in Gwadar had the potential to become the main trade hub for this era. Iqbal said that Gwadar was located only 180 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz through which 40 per cent of world’s oil passes. staff report

daily times

Zardari launches Quetta projects

The president also inaugurated 50 kilometre-long Kanozai-Muslim Bagh Section N50, which has been completed at a cost of Rs1169.407 million. He also inaugurated the 50 kilometre-long Muslim Bagh-Qila Saifullah Road Project N50, completed with an amount of Rs1667.191 million. He also inaugurated 132KV Gwadar industrial grid station, which is located at a distance of about 40 kilometres from Gwadar towards Pasni on the Coastal Highway.

for full story plz visit the news dot com dot pk

Gwadar port is fully functional: Gabol

Islamabad—State Minister for shipping and ports Nabeel Gabol dispelling the impression about the closure of Senate Gwadar port has said it is fully functional. He said this during question hour in Senate here Thursday. 99 percent of construction work at port had been completed.

Responding to a question he told the budget allocated during 2009-10 for Gwadar Port Civic centre could not be spent on the project due to reservations prevailing between the offices of AGPR Karachi and Quetta. Senator Ismail Baledi from Balochistan said federal minister for shipping and ports Babar Ghauri from MQM did not want to see Gwadar port as a successful project.

for full story plz refer pak observer

Gwadar Port delay flayed in Upper House

F.P. Report ISLAMABAD: Senators from opposition benches have expressed strong reservations over the delay in functioning the newly established Gwadar Port and urged the government to take practical steps to ensure its proper functioning without any further delay. They accused that government's coalitional partner MQM was not sincere in the functioning of Gwadar port as Federal Minister for Port and Shipping fears that it's functioning could affect the business of Karachi and Qasim Ports. They urged the government to start construction of roads, hospitals, banks, and other basic necessities in order to attract foreign investment that could help steer out the country from financial crises.

Senator Ismail Buledi of JUI (F) said that Minister for Port and Shipping, Baber Khan Ghouri wan against the proper functioning of Gwadar port as he fear that its functioning could damage the business of Qasim and Karachi ports. He said instead making the port fully functional, government was spending billion of rupees in the construction of civic centers.

Senator Kulsoom Parveen of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) critisizing the government said that incumbent elected government was ignoring the promises it made with Baloch people prior to coming into power. She said government has made tall claims in the establishing and functioning of Gwadar port but no foreign investment could be attracted so far because it was lacking basic facilities of daily life. She said that government should pay its immediate attention towards the proper functioning of Gwadar port. Responding to the questions, State Minister for Port and Shipping Nabeel Gabool rejected the impression that Gwadar port was not sincere in functioning saying that 99% development work has been completed. He said import and export has been started via Gwadar port. He also informed the House that fund allocated for establishment for Civic Center could not be released due to concerns between AGPR office Karachi and Quetta. Nabeel Gabool maintained that Gwadar port was fully functional and it would improve the country's economical situation. Earlier, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghouri informed the House that Gwadar Deep Sea water port project Phase-I including deepening of channels will cost over seventeen billion rupees and the government has allocated eighty-one million rupees in the current financial year for the project.

the frontier post

Sugar import thru Gwadar not feasible

By: Waqar Hamza | Published: February 25, 2010

KARACHI - Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has ruled out any import of sugar through Gwadar port, as it would cost them at least Rs3.24 billion in terms of transportation and stevedoring charges.
The Nation has learnt that TCP has received the letters of Ministry of Commerce, Finance Division and M/s Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) Gwadar, regarding the import of sugar through Gwadar port.
In response to the letters, the TCP replied that import of 0.5 million Metric Ton sugar through Gwadar Port not feasible. As per details, at present the stevedoring charges at Gwadar port are Rs 425/MT, which are higher than Karachi Port and Port bin Qasim i.e Rs 295/MT and 315/MT respectively.

Hence the stevedoring cost of 0.5 million MT of sugar at Gwadar port would be about Rs 212.5 million. Moreover, the Surveyors’ charges at Gwadar port are Rs 61/MT as compared to Rs 3.50/MT of KPT and Port Qasim.
Similarly, the transportation of sugar from Gwadar to Karachi would cost at least Rs 1.125 billion at the rate of Rs 2250/MT which is more expensive as compared to the import of sugar through KPT and PQA where the transportation charges to the TCP’s godowns are Rs 385/MT.
According to the sources, the Ministry of Commerce has requested the TCP to furnish its comments in the said matter, so in this regard Dispatch Operation Divisions of TCP has conveyed the reservations related to the import of 0.5 million MT sugar through Gwadar port.

daily nation

PSA fleecing TCP, ship-owners

By: Waqar Hamza | Published: February 23, 2010

KARACHI - The PSA is fleecing the TCP as well as the ship-owners by charging them extra at Gwadar Port.
The Nation has learnt that Former Chairman of TCP Muhammad Saeed, while giving a presentation, available with this scribe, to the ECC of the Cabinet on the overhead domestic charges on import of wheat at Bin Qasim and Gwadar ports, informed the committee that cost and freight bid price saving is no more possible at Gwadar Port. He said that there is net addition in cost for handling and transportation, besides limited handling capacity.
Amazingly enough, PSA is charging tug services charges, US$ 3550 for all sorts of services which are not applicable at PQA and KPT, from ships calling Gwadar, but the Tugs are owned by GPA and PSA have not invested even a penny on Marine Services agreement.
Moreover, Pilot-age charges for only 3.5 Km channel are 5 times higher than port Qasim that has 45 Km long channel. TCP cited excess billing against tariff by PSA on MV Pos Glory i.e. total hidden charges of about US$27000, while it also pointed out an additional cost of USD 1.25 at Gwadar in addition to excess transportation charges of Rs 2260 when compared to Karachi and Port Qasim.
Moreover, the additional cost at Gwadar port on the import of 63900MT wheat was Rs 4.9 million in terms of shifting machinery to Gwadar trucks for shifting of cargo from ship to ground area, and extra crane for 6 days. Thus the total cost incurred by TCP on the said import of wheat was Rs 78.21 per MT, while all said expenditure was not to be borne by TCP at ports in Karachi.

the nation

 Gwadar Port waits for ships

Vessels avoid anchoring at Gwadar as there is nothing to lift from this port after unloading cargo

Sunday, January 31, 2010
By Farhan Zaheer

KARACHI: The developers of Gwadar Port had perceived it to be the future of Pakistan’s economy. Gwadar is yet to shine despite all the potential of becoming a major port in the region.

The strategically important port helplessly waits for cargo ships while government seems indifferent even after inheriting the gift of Makran Coastal Highway from Musharraf government that links Karachi to Gwadar.

Local people say that Gwadar has seen a positive socio-economic change after the construction of coastal highway that has reduced three days journey to eight hours for reaching Karachi, the commercial hub of the country. Access to the big city has brought numerous bounties to the people of Gwadar district.

Gwadar Port was made with an investment of Rs17.2 billion ($288 million) with Chinese assistance of more than $220 million and over $66 million from Pakistan. Present government is still indecisive as to how to plan and exploit the immense potential of this port.

Ghulam Farooq, Director General, Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) said Gwadar Port will not be fully operational unless and until industrialisation takes place in Gwadar district.

“Cargo ships want to return with some cargo. Why will a cargo ship come to Gwadar Port when it has nothing to take back?” he said while talking to media persons at a local hotel in Gwadar.

Abdul Razik Durrani, DG operations of GPA said the port was increasing its capacity to turn into a hub port with all the facilities. “For instance here we have service berth that we do not have even at Karachi Port and Port Qasim, a RORO facility, which is used in importing vehicles and other machinery, fire fighting equipment, oil pollution equipment with an oil tank of 50,000 gallon capacity.”

Durrani added that two fish harbours were also under construction - one in Pishugaan and the other in Surbandar. Fish industry is one of the largest industries of Gwadar, he said, “we have cold storage system where fish processing and packing is done while a huge quantity of fish goes to Karachi for export to different countries.”

A coastline of 17.5 km is available to Gwadar Port where container terminals would be made. The master plan of Gwadar Port has LPG and LNG terminals that will be given to private companies on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis, he said.

The first ship offloaded 63,000 MT of wheat at Gwadar Port in March 2008 and from then only Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has imported commodities through Gwadar Port showing the extent of limited ships.

He said TCP decision of importing commodities from Gwadar instead of Karachi Port was right because the cost was same at both ports. Calculations reveal that the imports through Gwadar were not expensive if compared to Karachi Port and Port Qasim, for demurrages and other charges owing to heavy sea traffic at Karachi levels the cost of imports, he added.

When asked why two ships have ran aground at Gwadar Port, he replied, international laws say that any damage in case of incident to the ship is the responsibility of captain whether it touches jetty or runs aground.

The Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) the operator of Gwadar Port handles millions of containers around the world making it easier for them to develop this port according to the schedule plan, Durrani said.

PSA has much more important role to play than just the port operations, for instance bringing business, setting up container terminal, making it a proper and viable port is the responsibility of PSA, he said.

With the import of TCP commodities various employment opportunities emerged like truck drivers and other lifters that increase the hopes of local people that they will get more employment as the port operations grow. “With the increase in port operations, local people will get more employment and their grievances will certainly start decreasing,” he said.

“Private businessmen at Gwadar Port will certainly employ local people. Why would they bring labour for Rs500 per day when the local labour is available for Rs200 a day? How they can prefer to bring costly labour from Karachi or Quetta when they get trained local people in Gwadar? He asked and rebuffs the reservations of local people who think that they will be marginalized in employment opportunities.

Obviously, local people have the right and we would ensure that local people get training on priority basis, he added.

On the availability of water and electricity in Gwadar, he said electricity load shedding in Gwadar was same as we see in other parts of country while Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) was looking for desalination plant and electricity generation on its own.

the news

Balochistan to be made shareholder in PPL, OGDC

By Khaleeq Kiani
Friday, 19 Feb, 2010

The federal government wanted transferring partial shareholding of Gwadar Port and Saindak project to Balochistan in the first phase but the provincial government had expressed its reservations over the move and wanted shareholding in profitable companies first. – Photo by APP.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has agreed to give equity shares along with board membership of giant state corporations to Balochistan against over Rs130 billion gas development surcharge and royalty arrears but disagreements remain over the priority order and mode of divestment of federal shareholding in such entities.

Informed sources told Dawn on Thursday that President Asif Ali Zardari was expected to visit Balochistan by end of this month to announce, among other things, the federal government’s decision to give equity participation to the provincial government in big companies operating in Balochistan and membership proportionate to its stakes on the board of directors.

The companies in which the provincial government was expected to get shareholding, included Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC), Mari Gas Company Limited (MGCL), Gwadar Port and Saindak Copper Gold project, these sources said. The equity participation would be treated as provincial government’s investment and ensure a continuous source of revenue for Balochistan.

As part of the National Finance Commission (NFC) negotiations, the federal government had agreed to provide Rs120 billion as arrears of gas development surcharge for country-wide utilisation of Sui gas for decades and another Rs10 billion as gas price equalisation since 2002. The entire amount has to be paid to the province in about 12 equal instalments.

Sources said the federal government wanted transferring partial shareholding of Gwadar Port and Saindak project to Balochistan in the first phase but the provincial government had expressed its reservations over the move and wanted shareholding in profitable companies first.

These sources said the Karachi-based firm AKD, that had about 15 per cent shareholding in the Gwadar Port wanted to offload its investment. The centre desired that more than Rs10 billion worth of this equity should be transferred to Balochistan but the provincial government believed the loss-making port could not offer any return on investment for quite some time. Likewise, there was also confusion over the transfer of shareholding in Saindak Copper Gold project and it was not yet clear if the centre wanted to give 30 per cent of shareholding in the entire project or only federal government’s share in the project. In any case, the Saindak project’s current lease was going to end in 2011 and did not provide any sustainable return to the provincial government.

A senior official in the Balochistan government said that the provincial government wanted to either keep these arrears in temporary investments like treasury bills and keep them rolling over and to purchase shares in some good quality equities.

Alternatively, the provincial government also wanted to have an option to take over stakes in performing companies like PPL, OGDCL and MGCL. These companies, said these sources, not only offered good short-term returns but also had bright future prospects because of their operations in other provinces and overseas and some upcoming projects.

The sources said the provincial government was still in negotiations with the federal government to ensure that it was also given an option to invest in these equities according to the timing of provincial government’s choice. The federal government, the sources said, had informed the provincial government that the equity participation to the province would not be on the basis of par-value but according to the market price.

The sources said President Zardari’s announcement notwithstanding, the federal and provincial government would need to further deliberate on the mode of equity participation, timing and priority order of the target equities for another few weeks before implementation starts in two-three months.

The federal and provincial government had earlier reached an understanding that these arrears should not be paid through normal budgetary procedures because the province was going to get over Rs100 billion under the next budgetary proposals and it would be a challenge for the provincial government to make productive use of such huge amounts because of its capacity constraints.

daily dawn

Gilani lauds Chinese cooperation for developing Gwadar Port

KARACHI, Feb 8 (APP):  Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has lauded Chinese cooperation in the development of Gwadar Port.He was speaking as chief guest at the induction ceremony of PNS Shamsheer at the Naval Dockyard here on Monday.The keel of the vessel was laid in July 2008 in Hudong Shipyard of China.
The Prime minister also admired the Chinese cooperation in the development of Gwadar Deep Sea Port which has significantly contributed towards strengthening the maritime infrastructure in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Gilani said the port has opened new avenues of growth and prosperity in Balochistan. The port would serve as a vital link in developing over-land trade route from Makran coast to the western region of China and the Central Asian republics, he added.
The Prime Minister said  he was aware that the Pakistan Navy was also focusing on the development of coastal areas through its projects like development of Jinnah Naval Base and other support establishments.
He said the Navy’s lead role in contributing towards maritime awareness among  the people of Pakistan was another positive undertaking that would accrue long term benefits for the nation.
Gilani reiterated the government’s commitments towards development of the maritime sector and emphasised upon the Navy not only to defend the sea frontiers but also ensure safe conduct of maritime activities during peace time.

APP

Funds paucity delays Balochistan road projects

By: Javaid-ur-rahman | Published: February 05, 2010

ISLAMABAD – Owing to paucity of funds and adverse law and order situation in Balochistan, most of the National Highway Authority (NHA) projects including roads linking the Gwadar Port with other areas, which are considered crucial for making it a hub for transit trade, are getting delayed.
Among the 19 projects including M-8 (Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab) and most of others, are still under construction even after passing the stipulated dates, official sources told TheNation.
Due to slow progress of the work and law and order situation in the province, even half of the work could not be completed on some of the projects as around 75 percent work is still to be done on Sorab-Basima-Naag-Panjgur-Hoshab(454 Km) Road even after passing three years.
“Paucity of the funds and law and order situation in Balochistan have been major factors behind the delay of the NHA’s road projects,” said General Manager Coastal Highway Project, Col (Retd) Javed Akhtar while talking to TheNation.
According to the official NHA progress report, the work on the M-8 project has been around 60 percent completed. While the sources told that remaining work on an important road might take more five years.

The work on the (M-8) Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab was started on September 15 and its completion year was 2010 but only 60 percent work has been completed so far, which clearly indicates too much delay in completion of the important project. While, the Gwadar Port is being considered much important for the progress of the country but delayed payment, poor performance by the contractor and heavy flood in June 2007 are the officially stated reasons behind the delay in completion of this project.Delay in the payment and paucity of the funds has become the major reasons for the delay in completion of most of the projects. For instance, The National Highway Authority (NHA) has to pay Rs 7 billion to Frontier Works Organization (FWO) for long-time, revealed NHA official sources.

the nation

 PM directs Raisani to expedite work on uplift schemes

The provincial government also thanked the prime minister for his special attention to harnessing the full economic potential of Gwadar Port. It was stated in the meeting that 81 ships had berthed at the port till now and 81,000 trucks carried the cargo upcountry without any incident.

The prime minister stressed the need to complete the construction work on the remaining portion of the road connecting the port to all the parts of the country. He also inquired about the feasibilities of drinking water schemes to the port city.

Three projects — Shadikor Scheme, Sunsar Scheme and Swarzai Scheme — for provision of water to Gwadar were discussed in the meeting. Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani, while thanking the prime minister for his special attention towards addressing the longstanding issues of his province, said that the economic progress of his province after completion of the projects launched under the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan would go a long way in addressing the sense of deprivation of the people of Balochistan.

for full story plz visit the news web site

I am glad Mr. Assad is providing updated information about projects. I would like to know how as overseas pakistani who are eager to see Baluchistan and pakistan excel in such an excellent location. How can we help to move things quickly. I would like to invest for industry but would like to see basic amenitiesi n the industrial area. Gwadar is like a gold mine in need of full attention from planners and the government.

The authorities are now looking into the option of transporting goods for Nato forces in Afghanistan via Gwadar Port, a relatively much secure route. A meeting is likely to take place next month to discuss the issue.

the news

ECNEC approves Rs. 7,675 million for constructing Gwadar Airport

ISLAMABAD, Feb 1 (APP): Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved Rs. 7,675 million (including Omani grant of $ 17.50 million) for the construction of  new Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) and allied facilities. Planning and Development Division told APP that project envisages construction of Gwadar International Airport over a piece of land already acquired measuring 4,300 acres.
The new airport will be capable of handing a combination of ATR 72, Airbus, (A-300), Boeing (B-737) for domestic as well international routes. These aircrafts can be combi type, if the cargo off-take is substantial.
The construction of NGIA will be undertaken  in phase programme. The short-term need (Ist phase—up to year 2020) includes all the basic facilities which are essential for the operation of and airport.
The  runway configuration will be able to provide up to 50 operations per hour and the terminal will be capable of serving more than 300.000 passengers annually.

APP

Pak, Iran to expedite 1000MW project

Published: January 29, 2010

Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Masha’allah Shakeri and Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf Thursday agreed to expedite the process of importing 1000 MW power from Iran to Pakistan on fast track basis.
The Iranian envoy Thursday called on Water and Power Minister and discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral relations to further boost economic ties between the two countries.
The current status of transmission line for import of 100 MW power for Gawadar from Iran was also discussed.
Pervez Ashraf said a Pakistani delegation was leaving for Iran Thursday night to discuss matters relating to import of power within the shortest possible time.
Both sides also discussed the current status of gas pipeline project, construction of transmission line for import of 100 MW for Gawadar and 1000 MW for national grid and appreciated each others’ co-operation in this respect.
Earlier, the minister while welcoming the envoy said Pakistan had close brotherly relations with Iran. Pakistan valued the help and support of Iran and was desirous of expanding bilateral relations in all sectors. Pervez Ashraf said the government was taking necessary measures to generate electricity to bridge the demand and supply gap through fast track projects. He informed that the govt attached high priority to exploit indigenous resources like coal, hydel and wind for power generation. He said first wind mill had started generation in Sindh. He also assured full support to facilitate Iranian investors in water and power sectors of Pakistan.

the nation

 Gwadar Port waits for ships

Vessels avoid anchoring at Gwadar as there is nothing to lift from this port after unloading cargo

Sunday, January 31, 2010
By Farhan Zaheer

KARACHI: The developers of Gwadar Port had perceived it to be the future of Pakistan’s economy. Gwadar is yet to shine despite all the potential of becoming a major port in the region.

The strategically important port helplessly waits for cargo ships while government seems indifferent even after inheriting the gift of Makran Coastal Highway from Musharraf government that links Karachi to Gwadar.

Local people say that Gwadar has seen a positive socio-economic change after the construction of coastal highway that has reduced three days journey to eight hours for reaching Karachi, the commercial hub of the country. Access to the big city has brought numerous bounties to the people of Gwadar district.

Gwadar Port was made with an investment of Rs17.2 billion ($288 million) with Chinese assistance of more than $220 million and over $66 million from Pakistan. Present government is still indecisive as to how to plan and exploit the immense potential of this port.

Ghulam Farooq, Director General, Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) said Gwadar Port will not be fully operational unless and until industrialisation takes place in Gwadar district.

“Cargo ships want to return with some cargo. Why will a cargo ship come to Gwadar Port when it has nothing to take back?” he said while talking to media persons at a local hotel in Gwadar.

Abdul Razik Durrani, DG operations of GPA said the port was increasing its capacity to turn into a hub port with all the facilities. “For instance here we have service berth that we do not have even at Karachi Port and Port Qasim, a RORO facility, which is used in importing vehicles and other machinery, fire fighting equipment, oil pollution equipment with an oil tank of 50,000 gallon capacity.”

Durrani added that two fish harbours were also under construction - one in Pishugaan and the other in Surbandar. Fish industry is one of the largest industries of Gwadar, he said, “we have cold storage system where fish processing and packing is done while a huge quantity of fish goes to Karachi for export to different countries.”

A coastline of 17.5 km is available to Gwadar Port where container terminals would be made. The master plan of Gwadar Port has LPG and LNG terminals that will be given to private companies on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis, he said.

The first ship offloaded 63,000 MT of wheat at Gwadar Port in March 2008 and from then only Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has imported commodities through Gwadar Port showing the extent of limited ships.

He said TCP decision of importing commodities from Gwadar instead of Karachi Port was right because the cost was same at both ports. Calculations reveal that the imports through Gwadar were not expensive if compared to Karachi Port and Port Qasim, for demurrages and other charges owing to heavy sea traffic at Karachi levels the cost of imports, he added.

When asked why two ships have ran aground at Gwadar Port, he replied, international laws say that any damage in case of incident to the ship is the responsibility of captain whether it touches jetty or runs aground.

The Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) the operator of Gwadar Port handles millions of containers around the world making it easier for them to develop this port according to the schedule plan, Durrani said.

PSA has much more important role to play than just the port operations, for instance bringing business, setting up container terminal, making it a proper and viable port is the responsibility of PSA, he said.

With the import of TCP commodities various employment opportunities emerged like truck drivers and other lifters that increase the hopes of local people that they will get more employment as the port operations grow. “With the increase in port operations, local people will get more employment and their grievances will certainly start decreasing,” he said.

“Private businessmen at Gwadar Port will certainly employ local people. Why would they bring labour for Rs500 per day when the local labour is available for Rs200 a day? How they can prefer to bring costly labour from Karachi or Quetta when they get trained local people in Gwadar? He asked and rebuffs the reservations of local people who think that they will be marginalized in employment opportunities.

Obviously, local people have the right and we would ensure that local people get training on priority basis, he added.

On the availability of water and electricity in Gwadar, he said electricity load shedding in Gwadar was same as we see in other parts of country while Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) was looking for desalination plant and electricity generation on its own.

the news

I am happy to see the post by Mr. Assad but how long this is going to take to build and what quality of construction wouyld it be. Well see. Also can anyone give me update whay Gov is taking so long to provide water abd build desalination plant for water? Who can we get in touch with to discuss sorry state of pace for development.

Rs. 3.29 bln spent on dredging of ports: Kaira      

ISLAMABAD, Jan 28 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Thursday informed the National Assembly that Rs.3.29 billion were spent on dredging of Ports since February, 2009 till date.Replying to questions on behalf of Minister for Ports and Shipping, he said dredging is a costly process and after having three ports in the country government is now considering having its own dredging company.
He said a total number of 3368 foreign merchant ships anchored in Pakistani Ports during the said period.
Kaira said that total 83 ships anchored on Gwadar Deep Seaport with a cargo of 2.3 million ton and added that the said 83 ships are “forced anchored” from Karachi after giving them subsidy.
He maintained that the government is getting only 11 percent of revenue generated from the port.
To a question, he said previous government did not take steps to connect port and provide road access to port but now the government has provided funds for Rato Dero Link which would be completed soon opening new avenues of success.

APP

Slow investment in Gwadar criticized

GWADAR: Acting Chairman Gwadar Port Authority Ghulam Farooq Baloch has said that 82 ships anchored on Gwadar port during the last three years but Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) could not bring a single ship to the port. He further said that the government has power to amend or cancel the contract with the PSA.

He said this during a media briefing in Gwadar on Wednesday. Ghulam Farooq Baloch said that contract of Gwadar port with the PSA has some flaws.

The PSA has to invest US $525 million during 5 years but it has invested only US $30 million during the last 3 years. Baloch said that the PSA has been informed about the slow rate of investment.

The PSA will build a 4.2 km long birth and container terminal in next 15 years.

On the other hand, PSA says that the government promise of completing road network and industrial zone has not been fulfilled and that’s why they are facing difficulties.

SAMAA TV

Govt to install 1,000 MW TV booster in Gawadar: Senate told

ISLAMABAD, Jan 22 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira Friday said the government has decided to install 1,000 Mega Watt TV booster in Gawadar for coverage in Muslim countries.Responding during the question hour session, he said this booster would help improve the Television service there, adding that it has also been considered to ask PTV, PBC and PTCL to use same installment for the network coverage.

APP

Ecnec approves 28 development projects

The Ecnec meeting, presided over by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, approved projects for construction of various roads,

highways and bridges, a new Supreme Court building in Islamabad and construction of New Gwadar International Airport. - File photo

It approved construction of New Gwadar International Airport and allied facilities costing Rs7.67 billion, including Omani grant of $17.50 million.

daily dawn

Courtesy: Hameed Baluch

TCP continues to bear huge financial losses

KARACHI - The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) continues to bear huge financial losses in terms of transportation of wheat and urea from Gwadar Port.
The Nation has learnt that TCP is still busy using Gwadar Port for the chanellization of bulk cargo of urea and wheat against the set limit of 2.5 million under the Prime Minister’s directive.
PM’s directive No 2206 dated 14th July, 2008 stated that 1/3rd of the entire imports of 2.5m MT must be chanellized through Gwadar Port, but the total cargo, urea and wheat both, TCP chanellized though Gwadar is 2.368m MT. Moreover, due to unavailability of Hinterland connectivity the federal government has so far paid a subsidy to the tune of Rs 5.21b for transportation of the said cargo from Gwadar Port to other parts of the country at the rate of Rs 2200 per metric ton.
Such huge losses that are being borne both by government and TCP just to make the Gwadar Port operational have turned into permanent suffering for the masses who have to buy wheat and urea on unbearable rates, the experts said.
It has also been learnt that the TCP has to pay Rs 110,000 as extra cost on the off setting of every 50 thousand Metric Ton bulk cargo at Gwadar Port, while it has so far given more than Rs 5 billion since March 2008 in this regard.

Though the connectivity via Coastal Highway is available, which was used during and for the construction of Gwadar Port, now handled more than 69 thousand trucks carrying wheat and Urea weighing from 20 to 85 tons each.
The part of responsibility of this unavailability of hinterland connectivity also goes on Port of Singapore Authority that has not fulfilled its promises to develop connectivity.
Chairman TCP Saeed Khan when contacted confirmed that the chanellization particularly of Urea is still to be done through Gwadar and they do not have any directions from the government to stop this.

the nation

Govt likely to okay construction of Gwadar Int’l Airport

By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in its meeting on January 21 is likely to approve construction of new Gwadar International Airport (GIA) and allied facilities with initial cost of Rs 7.5 billion including Rs 1.312 billion as Foreign Exchange Component (FEC).

The scheme envisages construction of state of the art GIA, along with allied facilities over a piece of land already acquired measuring 4300 acres. The airport would be developed as a green-field airport and all major components of an airport would be developed as part of this project. The sources claimed that the NGIA would be the business gateway to Pakistan through the city of Gwadar. The government has already allocated Rs 750 million in the PSDP 2009-10 for its construction. Official sources claimed that the government attached high priority to the development of Gwadar Airport. They said that the new airport would be six times larger than the existing airport in Gwadar, which would be completed in three years after its initiation.

Master plan for the project, for which a PC-1 of Rs 7.5 billion has already been approved with an allocation of Rs 750 million in the current Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), has been finalized and the survey completed. The passenger terminal for Gwadar International Airport is perceived to facilitate 350,000 per year passenger traffic by 2020.

The Prime Minister at Gwadar was informed that Oman, which had already contributed $ 17.5 million for the project, is ready to provide another $ 100 million after beginning construction of the airport.

The revised scheme envisages acquisition of around 4,300 acres of land for construction of GIA at Gurandani, 26 km east of Gwadar City. Sources said that the terminal building has a capacity of handling Fokker flights only.

The construction of New Gwadar International Airport forms an integral part of the overall objective of the transport sector in providing easy and efficient access to the southern region of Balochistan. The new airport would augment the airport facilities in Pakistan and as an advantage of its construction; a network of roads and other essential infrastructure would be developed.

Gwadar, which is strategically located has an enormous trade potential, which could not only help alleviate poverty and boost the socio-economic uplift of Balochistan but can contribute in the national economy through transit trade.

daily times

Gwadar Port deal with PSA: Task force recommends govt to cancel deal

* ‘Deal a disaster as it contains 40-year concession with the port operator and only three years have passed’

ISLAMABAD: Planning Commission’s Task Force on Maritime Industry has strongly recommended the government to cancel the Gwadar Port’s operation deal signed with Port of Singapore Authority (SPA).

According to a presentation of the task force, the Gwadar operation deal has been termed a complete disaster as it contains the 40-year concession agreement with the port operator and just three years have passed.

Recommendations prepared by the task force included that the concession agreement can be revisited and the best option would be to cancel the agreement. In this case penalty potential is estimated at only $8 to $10 million which can be negotiated with the port operator. It has also been recommended that viable alternatives for use of three berths at Gwadar be opted.

There must be infrastructure available for attracting investment in petroleum storage, refinery, pipeline, oil filled related equipment, construction fabrication and repair etc. It has also been proposed that only Ro-Ro berth in Pakistan should be used. Logistics port concept should be introduced, with appropriate industries. If the government’s cargos have to come to Gwadar, transshipment to Karachi should be considered.

According to the presentation, both the government and PSA are in default on many counts and are unable to perform their agreement obligations. It has been disclosed in the presentation that no commercial vessel has arrived at Gwadar Port in the last 3 years and apprehensions has been expressed that there is no possibility of arrival of any commercial vessel for many years to come. The Gwadar Port was supposed to be connected by construction of road links and a timeframe of four years after reaching port operation agreement. Gwadar Port is also to be connected through establishment of rail network with the rest of the country as well as with neighboring countries especially Afghanistan, and through Afghanistan to Central Asian Republics (CARs) as well as China. According to the presentation, Gwadar Port rail connectivity would take some 10-15 years to complete.

Till date, some 72 ships brought government cargo via Gwadar Port and the federal government had to subsidise such imports by giving subsidy to the tune of Rs 2,000 per tonne. Apart from subsidising cargo imports, the government has also paid PSA Rs 220 million as subsidy.

The presentation revealed that under Gwadar Port operation agreement the federal government is required to purchase 2281 acres of land on water front and transfer this land free of cost to PSA for 40 years. Subsequently, PSA would be able to lease out 2281 acres of land on water front for 99 years.

Apprehension has been expressed that there is no possibility of land purchase in the near future and the cost of land that the federal government would be required to pay is estimated at Rs 15 billion.

On the other hand, without getting free of cost land PSA is unwilling to make further investment in Gwadar Port, as PSA had earlier committed for making investment to the tune of $525 million in five years. PSA has not invested during the first three years, and it is not likely to spend any during the next 2-year period, the presentation stated. It has been disclosed that with present berths there is no possibility of Gwadar Port Authority achieving breaking and the government will have to subsidise GPA for many years to come. On the political side, it has been stated that Balochistan government has strongly opposed to the present Gwadar Port Concession Agreement with PSA as the Baloch people are not gaining anything from it. The presentation further disclosed that Gwadar Port is not viable for transshipment, as well as not for transit until political and law and order situation in Afghanistan stabilises and Western China is connected by road and rail with Gwadar. staff report

daily times

PM directs CAA to complete Gwadar airport in 3 years

ISLAMABAD, Jan 12 (APP): Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday directed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to complete the new Gwadar International Airport within the stipulated period of three years.

The Prime Minister issued the directives during a meeting with the delegation of Balochistan cabinet led by Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raeesani, says a PM House press release issued here.

APP

Gwadar Immigration Office & Ferry Service for Gulf

By: Waqar Hamza | Published: January 05, 2010

KARACHI-Gwadar Port has been handed over to a local business group through Novation Agreement signed between Port of Singapore Authority International (PSAI) and Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) on October 26, 2007, The Nation has learnt.
The Nation has found through a copy of Novation Agreement available with it that PSAI has assigned its responsibilities/obligations to three port operating companies namely Terminal Operating Company, Maine Services Company, and the Free Zone Company by Novation Agreement soon after Concession Agreement.
The main beneficiary of the three above mentioned companies was Free Zone Company that is having 61 per cent shares by Aqeel Kareem Dedhi (AKD) group, as transfer of land to this Free Zone Company will be made soon.
While transfer of port assets, facilities, buildings and infrastructures have already been made to the Terminal Operating Company and Marine Service Company.
According to the Novation Agreement, PSAI will remain responsible for any acts of omission, commission or default on the part of these Operating Companies except for the Free Zone Company, and for that purpose, it will hold at least 51 per cent shares (it has presently 60 per cent) of the first two companies.
The definition of Novation in The Contract Act, 1980, is ‘that, there being a contract in existence, some new contract is substituted for it either between the same parties or between different parties, the consideration mutually being the discharge of the old contract’.
The Terminal and Marine Services Companies will earn revenues through tolls, dues, rates, charges, and tariffs from vessels, while the Free Zone Company will earn income from rentals, sales of real estate; development charges, maintenance charges, utility charges, etc., the documents state.
Moreover, the all three operating companies Terminal Operating Company, Marine services Company, Free Zone Company will pay 9 per cent, 9 per cent, and 15 per cent royalty accordingly from their gross revenues.
According to the novation to the Concession Agreement the Free Zone measuring 923 hectares shall be acquired by the GPA with a clear title and with full authority to lease the same to the Free Zone Company for establishment of free zone.
The Free Zone area will be customs-free and a 20 years tax holiday shall apply to business that may be established in the area, while the Free Zone Company shall be given lease hold rights in respect of the Free Zone area for a term of 40 years.

http://www.nation.com.pk

Gwadar Port handed over to local business group

Nawaz will become prime minister again: Shahbaz

 
  LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said Saturday that PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif would become the country’s prime minister again through people power.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of Shalimar Interchage here, Chief Minister Shahbaz said that the government would have no need to beg if the work on the Gwadar Port were completed in time.

“Gwadar Port is a golden mine for Pakistan,” he said.

He said that Nawaz Sharif had started work on the Gwadar project with the help of China. However, Pervez Musharraf had dramatized the whole project.

“Pakistan has no need of Kerry-Lugar Bill if loans are recovered from the defaulters,” he opined.

the news

Courtesy: Hameed Baluch (Gen Secretary All Gwadar Shipping, Clearing & Transporters Association)

Gwadar to be Added as "Entry Point" for Afghan Transit Trade

Govt trying to market Gwadar Port as world’s focus: Gilani      

GWADAR, Dec 29 (APP):  Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said Tuesday that the government was trying to market Gwadar Port as focus of the world and a strategically located  harbour.He was speaking at the distribution of regularisation letters among 87 contract employees of Gwadar Port. Ports  and Shipping Minister Babar Khan Ghauri, State Minister for Ports  and Shipping Nabeel Gabol were also present on the occasion.

“The purpose of the government is to make this port a focus of the world which can benefit so many countries due to its strategic location,” PM Gilani added. We are also trying to make it operational as it was non- functional soon after the inauguration.

Prime Minister pointed out that the present cabinet has decided to divert some of the urea and wheat import of the government to Gwadar Port so that it can become functional.  This decision has generated a lot of activity in Gwadar, he noted.

About 80 ships carrying wheat and urea discharged their cargo at Gwadar and about 80,000 trucks transported this cargo to Karachi.

This also provided lot of jobs to people, boosted business activities and strengthened  the economy of the area.

He said though the government paid a cost of Rs 2 billion for this diversion, it helped the port to become operational. This was our obligation. It  was also our obligation to regularise contract port employees and we did it,” he added.

He said the government has also reinstated thousands of retrenched employees and more retrenched workers will be restored in future.

Gilani said that NAVTEC will be established  in Gwadar to provide training to the locals in various skills so that they can go abroad and earn a better livelihood for themselves as well as remittances for the country.

He advised the Chairman Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) to give preference to the locals in  jobs.

Earlier, Ports  and Shipping Minister Babar Khan Ghauri said that the purpose of PM’s visit to Gwadar was to tell the people how much importance the  government gives  to this neglected province.

He pointed out that all the regularised employees are locals.  GPA Chairman Mohammad Aslam Hayat said that the Port was entering a new phase. He said that the Port handles on an average 5000 metric tons of cargo per day.

APP