The Senate body on Shipping and Ports has asked the government to accord highest priority to the development of road networks at Gwadar port. The meeting was held in the Parliament building on Monday, with Gulshan Saeed in the chair.
It may be mentioned here that a report published in the Monday issue of Business Recorder suggested that with the development of communication facilities, Gwadar would become economic and communication hub in this region.
Pakistan desired to develop Gwadar as a port city because of its strategic position athwart the tip of Hurmuz straits and Persian Gulf. Gwadar has profound maritime importance as a full-fledged deep water to provide alternate routes to the Gulf ports as well as vital link to China and Central Asian Republics (CAR).
Reacting sharply to delays in construction of three road networks, linking Gwadar port with Turbat, Pangjur, Basima, Ratodero, Surab, Kalat, Mastung and Quetta, as well as main RCD Highway, the Committee wished speedy completion of the roads which constituted important plank in the development of Gwadar port as major economic hub and to facilitate exports in the region. The three road systems were yet to be completed and remained on the planning board. It said. The committee reviewed the difficulty in Gwadar becoming operational because it lacked good quality, all-weather dependable road linkages.
In his briefing, the National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman explained the value of road connectivity for transit trade between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asian Republics and China. He named the three road linkages as Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab-Panjgur-Nag-Basima-Surab (N-85): This road linked Gwadar to N-25 RCD Highway at Surab. The NHA has awarded contract for upgradation of this federalised road to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).
Basima-Khuzdar-Ratodero: This road will connect Gwadar to N-85 & N-25- RCD Highway at Khuzdar and N-55 Indus Highway at Ratodero. Basima-Surab-Kalat-Mastung-Quetta-Chamman: The road linked Gwadar to Quetta and Chaman through N-25 RCD Highway.
The Committee desired the NHA to plan construction of roads in a way that it could withstand floods, especially flash floods. In addition, the committee desired the government to make provision of fresh drinking water and also link Gwadar with the national electricity grid, an important consideration for the port to emerge as economic hub.
The Senate Committee also received presentation on development of Rs 100 billion Gwadar-Quetta rail-link project and took a strong exception to Balochistan government violating the Federal government ban on sale of state lands.
The prized land, owned by Railways, was allegedly sold to private housing societies by a few unscrupulous elements in the provincial administration at throwaway prices. The housing societies, to whom the land was sold, were now demanding millions of rupees for construction of container yards from the railways department.
The Senate Committee has summoned the provincial land revenue officials along with the relevant records in the next meeting. The committee also decided to set-up a three-member sub-committee to sort out issues of land acquisition and its security, in view of inhospitable terrain. This body would liaise with National Highway Authority and the dwellers.
Dr Abdul Malik was asked to head the committee with Dr Ismail Buledi and Mir Israrullah Khan as members. Lieutenant General Javed Ashraf (retd), Mir Israrullah Khan, Dr Muhammad Ismail Buledi, Saadia Abbasi, Kalsoom Parveen and Dr Abdul Malik attended the Committee.