A parliamentary panel has directed the Ministry of Defence Production and other relevant departments to expedite completion of Gwadar Shipyard with an aim to facilitate cargo ships likely to dock on Gwadar Port in connection with China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The Senate Standing Committee on Defense Production met here with Senator Lieutenant General Abdul Qayyum (retd) in the chair on Thursday. The committee observed that construction work on Gwadar Shipyard be completed within due time and a report on the progress be put up before the every subsequent meeting.
Terming Balochistan a future economic zone for economically sound nations, the committee members were of the view that the development work in future would herald bulge of employment opportunities for dwellers of the province.
The committee also strongly condemned the recent uncalled for statement of Indian army chief and said that the statement is premeditated to conceal Indian army's blatant human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir as authenticated by an international institution, no less than United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights, which directed the UNHR Council to send and independent international fact-finding mission to both sides of the LOC in Kashmir.
The chairman of the committee lauded the evaluation and progress made in defense production, saying soon after the independence, Pakistan inherited a scant defense production capability; however, with the passage of time through zeal and devotion of the technical manpower, the production capabilities have been enhanced which are achieving new milestones with each passing day.
The committee was given a detailed briefing about the IDEAS-2018 and progress made on the recommendations of the committee.
Briefing the panel, the senior officials of the Ministry of Defense Production said that a gazette notification pertaining to the shipyard had been issued which meant that the project could not be retreated. However, it has been delayed due to transition of power in the country. The meeting was also informed that the ministry was in constant contact with the Balochistan government while the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) had demarcated over 750 acres land for the shipyard.
Secretary Defence Production Lieutenant-General Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry (retd) said that the department would be inviting international tenders and conducting the feasibility of project after getting the final approval of the next policy board meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan himself. He said the shipyard had a potential to absorb the skilled workforce based in Balochistan.
Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi urged the committee to take steps to ensure equal employment opportunities for the non-skilled labor of the province in the project.
The chairman of the committee asked the secretary to arrange a visit of the committee members to the Gwadar shipyard. The panel recommended that all defence production institutions should be so productive to boost Pakistan defense exports, enable themselves to become financially self-sustaining and release financial pressure on the national budget.
The chairman committee said that the Defense Production Ministry and its allied institutions had done commendable job in developing Pakistan's defense production potential and made this country not only a missile power but a nuclear power.
A comprehensive briefing was given by the Ministry of Defense Production highlighting progress made by all its institutions. After having a detailed deliberation and comprehensive interaction with all the representatives and heads of defense production institutions, the committee directed that all autonomous boards should enjoy full powers granted to them under prevalent laws. The members of the respective boards should be selected on merit.