The government of Balochistan has yet to receive apportionment of 10 percent of the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA)'s revenue agreed under the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package. GPA's only source of revenue is its revenue share on account of operation of the Port by Port Singapore Authority (PSA).
GPA has recommended apportionment of 10 percent of the said revenue to the government of Balochistan for the development of the province, informed sources revealed to Business Recorder. However no amount has been released under the agreed commitment.
Sources further revealed that the federal cabinet approved the GPA bill in a special cabinet meeting held on board a Pakistan Navy ship anchored at the Gwadar Port presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. The main objective of the meeting at the Port was to discuss issues concerning Balochistan, particularly the implementation of the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-i-Balochistan package. According to the GPA bill, the Authority's board will comprise 15 members, including seven from Balochistan, with chief minister of the province as its chairman. However approval of the GPA bill from the Parliament is still awaited, sources stated. Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan package envisages Gwadar Port providing the maximum benefit to the people of Balochistan, however the package with respect to Gwadar has yet to be implemented, sources added.
However, it has been made a part of GPA Bill, 2010 (section 37), that appointment in BS-1 to 16 in Gwadar would be from local population. The bill has been approved by the Cabinet and has been submitted to the Parliament for approval. 87 employees working on contract in GPA have been regularised. Out of 150 employees in BS-1-16 in GPA, 142 belong to Balochistan.
It is further mentioned in the status report on the proposals for implementation of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan (contained in documents of the Ports and Shipping Ministry) that local contractors are being given preference in Port contracts, as decided. Some of the projects are: i)construction of solar panel electric poles costing Rs 8.5 million, ii) janitorial Services, iii) levelling of right of way of East Bay Expressway, iv) fencing of boundary wall, and v)induction of local ship agents, transport and stevedoring agents in the Port.