Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs was informed on Tuesday that only 99 cargo ships had been anchored at Gwadar port in last five years, out of which 42 ships came from China.
A meeting of the committee was held here in the Parliament Lodges under the chairperson of Senator Nuzhat Sadiq.
Ministry of Maritime Affairs secretary Amir Ashraf Khawaja informed the committee members that Gwadar port cannot become fully operational until all basic infrastructure including roads, rail, telephone and internet is provided there.
The secretary said there are total three berths at Gwadar port and small-sized cargo ships anchor there; and that's why the business on the port is low.
Gwadar Port Authority chairman Dosteen Khan Jamaldini informed the committee members that the port cannot become fully operational until all surrounding areas of the city are not developed and latest machinery is not provided at the port.
He said the Gwadar port has been used for one-way cargo and usually Trading Corporation's ships were anchored on the port. He also urged the committee members to take immediate measures for provision of transport, customs system, water, electricity and internet among other amenities at the port to make it fully functional.
The chairperson of the committee constituted a sub-committee under Senator Kauda Babar to look into all the matters pertaining to Gwadar port and submit a report with the main committee within 20 days.
About employment of people in the Maritime Affairs Ministry, Senator Usman Khan Kakar said the provincial quota in the jobs was not taken care of, adding that all government employees who serve in Balochistan for six months get Balochistan domicile for their children.
The committee has sought details of all those employees who have been inducted in last five years in the ministry, Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port.
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