It’s not just any port in a storm

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping, Thursday, appealed to ensure maintenance of law and order in Balochistan to make Gwadar Port functional.
Committee also recommended allocation of Rs 8 billions funds for the completion of road infrastructure linking Gawadar Port to the rest of the country.
Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) demanded of release of Rs 350 millions for maintenance of dredging channel, however, Finance Division raised the objection on the demand arguing that GPA’s expenditures were higher by many times than earning. Committee members also questioned transparency in agreement of leasing Gwadar Port to Singapore Port.
NA body also summoned Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police Balochistan and Divisional Inspector Generals of restive districts to next meeting scheduled to be held in next month to brief the committee on possible steps for ensure law and order in disturbed districts.
The Standing Committee met here under the chairmanship of acting Chairman Khawaja Sohail Mansoor to discus comprehensive plan of action in cooperation with Communications and Finance Ministries for development of Gwadar Port on priority basis.
National Highway Authority (NHA) Member Construction Aurang Zeb Khan briefed the House that constitution work on roads linking Gwadar Port to other areas of the country was almost stopped due to worst law and order situation in Panjgore, Turbat and Khuzdar and few others districts.
“Even, local contractors from Balochistan are not willing to carryout construction projects in those areas” he said adding that moreover, Finance Division was not releasing allocated funds so development work on ongoing projects would also be closed by the end of this month. He further apprised the committee that Frontier Works Organization (FWO) had been mobilized for development work on Khuzdar-Ratodero section, but worst law and order situation was hampering contractors for carrying work.
To a question from the panel of lawmakers, he observed that NHA and GPA officials held two meetings with Chief Minister Balochistan over the issue of law and order situation, but no positive development had been made so far.
However, he maintained that NHA could complete road infrastructure linking Gwadar Port to other areas in 2013, provided with required funds.
NA body while showing concerns over delayed completion of roads and highways linking Gwadar Port to other areas, recommended allocation of Rs 8 billions for NHA to be spent purely said on road infrastructure in next PSDP.
GPA Chairman demanded support from the committee in allocation of Rs 350 millions for maintenance of dredging channel saying that as per agreement with Singapore Port Authority, maintenance of the port was responsibility GPA, and committee recommended immediate release of required funds, but Finance Division representative contracted the GPA demand on account that expenditures of PA higher by many times than the earnings. At this members of the committee questioned into the justification for signing such an agreement of losses with Singapore Port Authority, but MQM members defended the agreement saying that no other company or firm had participated in bid, so accord was signed with Singapore Port Authority.