Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday asked concerned agencies to expedite civil work and complete the road network connecting the port with rest of the country by June 2006. He was speaking at a briefing by Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) and Gwadar Development Authority (GDA).
Balochistan governor Owais Ghani and chief minister Jam Mohammed Yousuf, ports and shipping minister Babar Khan Ghauri, federal ministers Zobaida Jalal and Naseer Mengal were also present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister also asked concerned officials to minimise steps for approval and execution of development scheme for Gwadar port to ensure completion of the mega project within stipulated time.
"Make it quick so that the port could be operationalised," he added. The Prime Minister was of the opinion that road network linking Gwadar port with rest of the country was vital for operationalisation of the port. He said all hindrances in the way of this project should be removed to facilitate early completion of the port.
He said related development schemes should be run on parallel basis instead of going one by one.
The Prime Minister also advised GPA to also develop an innovative approach and make its own thinking for devising new ideas to make Gwadar port a modern port and should not wholly depend on consultants.
He also asked GPA to hire couple of dynamic and vibrant marketing experts on immediate basis on merit to market this port to international community.
Earlier, ports and shipping secretary Ziaur Rehman in his briefing informed the Prime Minister about the pace development of Gwadar port. He said six companies have shown interest to operate the port. Iran has agreed to increase electricity supply from 32 to 64 megawatts to meet growing demand in Gwadar city, the secretary further said.
In the second briefing of GDA, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the authority should convert Gwadar into a modern city and provide all necessary facilities to its residents.
He said housing schemes should be encouraged by the GDA and it should promote an aesthetic sense in the development of the city.
The Premier directed the GDA to provide a neat and clean approach from the airport to Gwadar city so that visitors and investors should have a good impression upon entry into the city.
GDA director-general Ahmed Baksh Lehri in his briefing said the development work on several schemes including construction of roads, buildings, hospital, housing schemes and sports complex was already in progress.
Lehri said several private housing schemes have started development work on their land.
Later, taking to APP, the Prime Minister said the government wanted to change the look of Gwadar and transform it into a modern port city of the region. To a question, he said Gwadar has witnessed a faster development in the last few years.
"It is our endeavour to change the map of Gwadar and we have developed a master plan for this purpose," he added.
"New roads are being built and existing airport has been renovated while new one was on the way. The Gwadar port was being completed at a faster pace," he said.
He noted new houses, markets, hotels and restaurants were being constructed speedily. "This creates jobs and brings in prosperity among the people. Our dream has been realised gradually. However, it will take time and more has to be done in this regard," the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said the government was providing vocational training to locals to ensure that they should get jobs whenever opportunities are created.