KARACHI Karachi's businessmen who invested billions of rupees in housing and other projects in Gwadar have expressed concern over reports that some vested interests are trying to grab the land allotted to the people of the town and other parts of Balochistan.

They expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the province and attributed the delay in the development of the port city to a 'tug of war' between vested interests.

An investor said that whenever there was a change in the government important housing schemes and development projects attracted the interest of newly-elected parliamentarians and their favorite bureaucrats.

'A similar situation is developing now and they are trying to grab maximum benefit by manipulating documents,' he added.

Referring to a major public sector housing project developed by a Karachi-based consultant group in accordance with the plan and where plots were allotted and documented in a transparent manner, he said the land in the project, which had been originally allotted to the people from Gwadar and other parts of the province, had changed hands many times and most of the land had been transferred to outsiders.

The project was initiated in 1991 at Koh-i-Batil. It was designed and planned on an area of 2,500 acres to meet housing needs of the growing port city. Over 8,000 plots in different phases were planned and substantial development work had been done over past many years. All development expenses were met by owners of the plots.

The investors alleged that many interested groups were now trying to grab the land by manipulating documents in collaboration with some officials.

They urged the government to protect the investment made by the people of Balochistan and from outside the province to ensure development of the port city.