The government on Tuesday dispelled the impression that recent directive of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to probe into irregularities in the allotment and sale of state-owned land in Gwadar could cause further delay in the inauguration of country's biggest seaport.
The Prime Minister has ordered a probe into alleged irregularities in the allotment and sale of the government land in Gwadar and sought a report from Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf in this regard.
The government has time and again vowed to complete the already delayed multi-billion project before June 2006.
Talking to Business Recorder, minister for ports and shipping Babar Khan Ghauri said the probe has nothing to do with the pace of development work at Gwadar.
Minister for social welfare Zobaida Jalal has written a letter to the Prime Minister demanding cancellation of all allotments of state-owned land in the past two years.
Zobaida, who belongs to Gwadar, has alleged that large-scale irregularities were committed in the sale and allotment of state-owned land. "Zobaida's complain is regarding Gwadar city, which comes under the Gwadar Development Authority. I don't think it will affect the pace of development work of the port at all," Ghauri believed.
He made it clear that no embezzlement has taken place in the port area, therefore, probe would be launched entirely in the city area.
To a query, Babar Ghauri said the government was making all-out efforts to bring deep seaport at par with international standards. The inauguration of the Gwadar port is expected before June next year, he added. Federal minister of states and frontier regions Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind has also hailed intervention by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz into the alleged massive sales of the government lands at Gwadar and the order of stopping the sale process till completion of the Gwadar Master Plan.
In a statement, Rind suggested an inquiry board should be set up under the leadership of a Supreme Court judge to probe into the matter. Sources in the ministry of ports and shipping said prices of land have shot up because of mega projects initiated by the General Musharraf-led government and no state-owned land is left in the Gwadar district.
Sources further said land mafia has established a network there posing great security threat as well. It was learnt that clashes have also taken place among local inhabitants over land grabbing issues.
Agents say land prices in Gwadar, which borders with Iran and touches broad beaches of the Arabian Sea, have seen unbelievable appreciation during the last one-and-a-half-year.
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