ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs on Tuesday directed Ministry of Maritime Affairs to ensure quota for Baloch people in the Gwadar development project in order to minimise a sense of deprivation among the locals.
This was stated by the chairman of the committee Senator Nuzhat Sadiq during a meeting held to inform the members about the names, designation, BPS, and place of domicile of the persons appointed in the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim, and Gwadar Port during the last five years.
Senator Usman Kakar asked the ministry to verify domicile of the appointee, especially from Balochistan, before their appointment to avoid the chances of deceiving the authorities because it had been observed in the past that some people had misused the quota for the Baloch people.
Ministry of Maritime Affairs Secretary Khwaja Ashraf responded that the verification of domicile may delay the job process. However, the ministry would request the provincial government for necessary assistance.
Senator Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel said that the submitted information was not articulating identity of the employees and asked the ministry to come up with district and tehsil wise details of the employees in the next meeting.
Senator Khuda Babar underlined the need to impart education and skills to the locals so that they could be utilised. He also emphasised the expedition of the completion process of Gwadar Port as currently, it does not have electricity and water facilities.
The committee chairman constituted a six-member committee to ascertain the real situation in Gwadar and asked the nominated convener Khuda Babar to report back the committee in 20 days.