Mr Raisani said that so long as the port's facilities remained under-utilised desired economic results would be difficult to achieve. - File Photo.
QUETTA Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Khan Raisani has said that people of Balochistan in general and those of Gwadar in particular have pinned lots of hopes on the country's first deep sea port.

He said this while attending a meeting held on Wednesday to discuss problems being faced in the operation of the Gwadar port. Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri, federal Minister for Communications Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan and provincial Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd Gailu were present on the occasion.

Mr Raisani said that so long as the port's facilities remained under-utilised desired economic results would be difficult to achieve.

He said keeping in view the fishing community's woes the provincial government had prepared a plan to build two alternative fish harbours, one each at Sur-Bandar and Pishukan. He said PC1s of these projects had been sent to the Planning Commission for approval.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the performance of Port of Singapore Authority, the firm that has been leased out the Gwadar port for 40 years, Mr Raisani said the Balochistan government had reservations on the contract awarded by the Musharraf government.

“The Balochistan government would like to run the port itself,” the chief minister said. The federal minister for ports and shipping said that his ministry had no objection to the suggestion.

Editorial

A hasty retreat
28 Nov, 2024

A hasty retreat

POLITICAL immaturity has cost the PTI dearly once again. It appears things may not have come to this had Bushra ...
Lebanon truce
28 Nov, 2024

Lebanon truce

WILL it hold? That is the question many in the Middle East and beyond will be asking after a 60-day ceasefire ...
MDR anomaly removed
28 Nov, 2024

MDR anomaly removed

THE State Bank’s decision to remove its minimum deposit rate requirement for conventional banks on deposits from...
Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...