District Nazim Gwadar Babu Ghulab on Sunday disclosed that he has demanded grant of Rs 1 billion from federal government through Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan for infrastructure development and provision of health and education facilities to local population. "I asked members of Parliamentary Committee that District immediately needs Rs 200 million as first instalment of that grant for infrastructure development and establishing educational institutions and health facilities as we can hardly spend Rs 10 million in these heads" he told a group of visiting journalists.
He told that national and foreign investment had increased manifolds in Gwadar with completion of coastal highway in record time period, extraordinary steps taken by the government for maintaining law and order situation and start of port activities, yet there was lot to do for transforming Gwadar into an international port city.
According to him, owing to lack of co-ordination and confusion over responsibilities between district, provincial and federal governments, not only local population of Gwadar was suffering but investors were also reluctant in investing their money.
"Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Yousuf announced a development package for local people a few months back but so far not a single penny was provided by provincial government" he informed.
Similarly, he said, former Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali also announced provision of special grant to Gwadar for improving quality of life of local people but yet people were awaiting implementation on his promises.
"These things are adding to the concerns and worries of people and they feel nobody was serious in eradicating centuries old miseries," he observed.
Drawing the attention towards major problem facing locals, he said local people own all the land in and around Gwadar but they were facing hurdles in transfer of land to investors although there was no official restriction on it.
"Incomplete devolution of power, specially of fisheries department is another cause of concern for people as well as district government, owing to which only the residents of area, who depend on fishing are suffering" he informed.
"These issues can be resolved easily with political will and little effort, but if remained unresolved, it will hamper investment in the future economic hub of the country" he apprehended.
On the occasion, he demanded President Pervez Musharraf to ensure provision of Rs 1 billion grant for infrastructure development in Gwadar, immediate release of Rs 200 million and fulfilment of promises made by Balochistan PM and CM.
Earlier, print and media organisations were taken to adjoining areas of Gwadar including Sur Bandar, Pishokan and Guns where telephone exchanges and power generation plants were being established by the district government.
Local landlords and ordinary people, who own lands in and around the city complained that "settlement department" was creating problems on transfer of land which was shaking the confidence of investors and they were heading Dubai and Fujairah for investment.
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