Balochistan Updates
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ghazi52
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ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Maritime Affairs has proposed a new project worth Rs1.087.914 million for the construction of breakwater, boat repair yard and auction hall at East Bay (Demizer) Gwadar in next fiscal year 2020-21 under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
According to official documents, the main purpose of the new project is to provide a breakwater at East Bay (Demizer), Gwadar to facilitate the fishermen which are going to be displaced from the existing fish harbor cum mini port for undertaking other development works by the Chinese operator of the port and construction of East Bay Expressway.
Displacement of fishermen community will have a direct impact on the fishing industry of the port city.
According to the ministry, this project will ensure smooth operations for the fishing industry by providing parking space for boats with loading and unloading facilities for equipment.
The project consists of around 1.65 km breakwater for the boat parking of fishermen and an auction hall for the trading purpose.
The ministry said it is an important project for protecting the fish industry of the region, adding that this project will ensure the safe parking area for the boats. The fishermen have agreed on the proposed location and require urgent completion of the work.
The entrance for the fishermen was proposed at 3 locations below the under-construction Gwadar Expressway which was not planned in initial design.
The project would be executed through Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) and is expected to be completed by 2021.
Gwadar holds pivotal importance in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as a hub of connectivity. Through its deep-sea port, Gwadar will benefit not only China and Pakistan but also entire Central Asia by becoming the region’s key entrepot.
The government of Balochistan has unveiled the Gwadar Master Plan 2050, which stipulated that no old neighbourhoods of the port city would be relocated while restoring the historical sports and old status of the city.
Earlier, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal said the provincial government had finally approved the much-delayed plan, which would provide relief to its residents.
“The final map of the Gwadar master plan has been issued. It wasn’t approved in Islamabad or Quetta, but in Gwadar during the governing body meeting,” the chief minister, who is also the chairman of Gwadar Development Authority’s governing body, wrote in a tweet.
According to official documents, the main purpose of the new project is to provide a breakwater at East Bay (Demizer), Gwadar to facilitate the fishermen which are going to be displaced from the existing fish harbor cum mini port for undertaking other development works by the Chinese operator of the port and construction of East Bay Expressway.
Displacement of fishermen community will have a direct impact on the fishing industry of the port city.
According to the ministry, this project will ensure smooth operations for the fishing industry by providing parking space for boats with loading and unloading facilities for equipment.
The project consists of around 1.65 km breakwater for the boat parking of fishermen and an auction hall for the trading purpose.
The ministry said it is an important project for protecting the fish industry of the region, adding that this project will ensure the safe parking area for the boats. The fishermen have agreed on the proposed location and require urgent completion of the work.
The entrance for the fishermen was proposed at 3 locations below the under-construction Gwadar Expressway which was not planned in initial design.
The project would be executed through Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) and is expected to be completed by 2021.
Gwadar holds pivotal importance in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as a hub of connectivity. Through its deep-sea port, Gwadar will benefit not only China and Pakistan but also entire Central Asia by becoming the region’s key entrepot.
The government of Balochistan has unveiled the Gwadar Master Plan 2050, which stipulated that no old neighbourhoods of the port city would be relocated while restoring the historical sports and old status of the city.
Earlier, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal said the provincial government had finally approved the much-delayed plan, which would provide relief to its residents.
“The final map of the Gwadar master plan has been issued. It wasn’t approved in Islamabad or Quetta, but in Gwadar during the governing body meeting,” the chief minister, who is also the chairman of Gwadar Development Authority’s governing body, wrote in a tweet.
ghazi52
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Govt to establish PHA to preserve greenery
By APP
Published: February 24, 2020
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2162925/1-govt-establish-pha-preserve-greenery/
ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan government has decided to set up Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to preserve and promote greenery and province’s horticulture.
The move is aimed at transforming Balochistan into a top travel destination which would eventually help improve its image and ensure a cleaner and a green environment.
“A bill will be tabled in the provincial assembly soon to set up the first-ever ‘beautification authority’ of Balochistan,” provincial minister Mitha Khan Kakar told APP here on Sunday.
“It is the first government in Balochistan that has decided to form the PHA, which is imperative for promoting the province as one of the top tourist destinations of the country,” he added.
Kakar said public parks would be constructed on modern lines in a bid to provide a recreational opportunity to residents of the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2020.
By APP
Published: February 24, 2020
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2162925/1-govt-establish-pha-preserve-greenery/
ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan government has decided to set up Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to preserve and promote greenery and province’s horticulture.
The move is aimed at transforming Balochistan into a top travel destination which would eventually help improve its image and ensure a cleaner and a green environment.
“A bill will be tabled in the provincial assembly soon to set up the first-ever ‘beautification authority’ of Balochistan,” provincial minister Mitha Khan Kakar told APP here on Sunday.
“It is the first government in Balochistan that has decided to form the PHA, which is imperative for promoting the province as one of the top tourist destinations of the country,” he added.
Kakar said public parks would be constructed on modern lines in a bid to provide a recreational opportunity to residents of the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2020.
ghazi52
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Newly constructed highways in Balochistan are not only bringing connectivity to remote areas of the province. They are also boosting a process of unplanned urbanisation which is bringing about socioeconomic and political shifts within the populace and challenging stereotypes about it
The Gwadar-Panjgur Highway, also known as M-8
Cruising down the newly constructed Gwadar-Panjgur Highway, also known as M-8, one can feel like one is in a Hollywood film. We have all the ingredients for a Western — mountains as far as the eye can see, a bleak desert landscape, a harsh sun and a backdrop of violence. Except, instead of riding on horses, commuters are driving cars. And instead of 19th century American Old West, we are in current-day Balochistan.
Along the way, signboards of newly-built housing schemes tell the story of a transforming Balochistan, or at least hint at an aspiration to urbanise. Young vendors are selling watermelon seeds and eggs in the public transport and transit areas along the M-8. One restaurant owner on the Panjgur bypass tells Eos that the highway is providing economic opportunities to low-income groups living in the vicinity. “An egg-selling boy in Panjgur sells a minimum of a dozen eggs a day in the winter. If there is more than one such vendor in a small family that pools its income, it helps to support the family,” he says. The transit and resting areas along the highways have also helped small businesses — mainly related to agriculture and the domestic handicrafts industry — to flourish.
The new highways in coastal and southern parts of Balochistan were planned to improve connectivity and to boost the process of urbanisation. But these highways are also attracting rural populations towards their nearest cities. Panjgur and Bisma are apparently expanding alongside the highways. The Makran Coastal Highway (National Highway 10) and M-8, which were completed in 2004 and 2016 respectively, have made a huge impact on the economy and socio-politics of southern Balochistan. A new Baloch middle class has begun to emerge alongside these highways, significantly contributing to the process of urbanisation. “The coastal highway has not only increased the connectivity of the coastal region of Balochistan but also boosted trade and business opportunities,” says Bahram Baloch, a Gwadar-based journalist.
This is contrary to the perception that the nomadic Baloch with agro-pastoral economic foundations consider all other professions other than warfare below their masterly tribal status. This false perception also undermines their skills in trade and commerce. A restaurant owner and a fruit vendor in Panjgur share that they never imagined their small businesses would bring prosperity to their families and that they would be able to send their children to private English-medium schools. But the new economic and business opportunities have allowed them to do exactly that.
BUMPS IN THE ROAD
Some locals believe the M-8 will be used to transport oil to China
The newly constructed M-8 — which connects Gwadar to the old RCD highway near Surab and passes through Turbat, Hoshab, Panjgur and Basima — had been under construction since 2007 but the project only completed in 2016 because of the security situation and fiscal difficulties. Dozens of labourers from Sindh and south Punjab lost their lives during its construction in attacks by insurgent groups.
Now that the project has finished it has created new avenues of economic activity for the inhabitants of the areas it crosses, but in a province with a long history of people being suspicious of development projects, some are still sceptical of the M-8.
Curiously, this highway is also called the CPEC highway, although it was not built by China or under the CPEC infrastructure projects; the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) constructed the highway which, through RCD highway, connects eastern Balochistan with Quetta and rest of the country.
Some locals believe this route will be used by China to transport goods and oil from Gwadar to the Xinjiang region. They fear heavy traffic will not only damage the highway but will also make commuting difficult for locals. Adding fuel to the fire, the recent heavy rains dilapidated parts of the two-year-old M-8 and locals fear that heavy containers will further deteriorate the roads. Others say that the highway is well made but, being a single road, it will get blocked or slow down public transport when a convoy of five to 10 containers will drive on it. These perceptions will only be tested when the load will come on the highway.
Locals also think that this highway has been built to facilitate trade and oil supply to China. And the neighbouring country should set up an industry, training institutions and other infrastructure alongside the road for the development of the area. These narratives appear to be a bit simplistic. The highway was planned before the CPEC and the Chinese footprints in the province. Nonetheless, these claims say a lot about the high hopes locals have pinned on the highway.
The locals are, however, not the only ones placing high hopes on these development projects.
“Urbanisation has a great role in bringing about these changes. It has upgraded people’s lives, their income levels and their well-being. Political activists might view all this with ridicule and describe these observations as naive but, from a purely sociological, economic and statistical point of view, this is a great story.”
The Gwadar-Panjgur Highway, also known as M-8
Cruising down the newly constructed Gwadar-Panjgur Highway, also known as M-8, one can feel like one is in a Hollywood film. We have all the ingredients for a Western — mountains as far as the eye can see, a bleak desert landscape, a harsh sun and a backdrop of violence. Except, instead of riding on horses, commuters are driving cars. And instead of 19th century American Old West, we are in current-day Balochistan.
Along the way, signboards of newly-built housing schemes tell the story of a transforming Balochistan, or at least hint at an aspiration to urbanise. Young vendors are selling watermelon seeds and eggs in the public transport and transit areas along the M-8. One restaurant owner on the Panjgur bypass tells Eos that the highway is providing economic opportunities to low-income groups living in the vicinity. “An egg-selling boy in Panjgur sells a minimum of a dozen eggs a day in the winter. If there is more than one such vendor in a small family that pools its income, it helps to support the family,” he says. The transit and resting areas along the highways have also helped small businesses — mainly related to agriculture and the domestic handicrafts industry — to flourish.
The new highways in coastal and southern parts of Balochistan were planned to improve connectivity and to boost the process of urbanisation. But these highways are also attracting rural populations towards their nearest cities. Panjgur and Bisma are apparently expanding alongside the highways. The Makran Coastal Highway (National Highway 10) and M-8, which were completed in 2004 and 2016 respectively, have made a huge impact on the economy and socio-politics of southern Balochistan. A new Baloch middle class has begun to emerge alongside these highways, significantly contributing to the process of urbanisation. “The coastal highway has not only increased the connectivity of the coastal region of Balochistan but also boosted trade and business opportunities,” says Bahram Baloch, a Gwadar-based journalist.
This is contrary to the perception that the nomadic Baloch with agro-pastoral economic foundations consider all other professions other than warfare below their masterly tribal status. This false perception also undermines their skills in trade and commerce. A restaurant owner and a fruit vendor in Panjgur share that they never imagined their small businesses would bring prosperity to their families and that they would be able to send their children to private English-medium schools. But the new economic and business opportunities have allowed them to do exactly that.
BUMPS IN THE ROAD
Some locals believe the M-8 will be used to transport oil to China
The newly constructed M-8 — which connects Gwadar to the old RCD highway near Surab and passes through Turbat, Hoshab, Panjgur and Basima — had been under construction since 2007 but the project only completed in 2016 because of the security situation and fiscal difficulties. Dozens of labourers from Sindh and south Punjab lost their lives during its construction in attacks by insurgent groups.
Now that the project has finished it has created new avenues of economic activity for the inhabitants of the areas it crosses, but in a province with a long history of people being suspicious of development projects, some are still sceptical of the M-8.
Curiously, this highway is also called the CPEC highway, although it was not built by China or under the CPEC infrastructure projects; the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) constructed the highway which, through RCD highway, connects eastern Balochistan with Quetta and rest of the country.
Some locals believe this route will be used by China to transport goods and oil from Gwadar to the Xinjiang region. They fear heavy traffic will not only damage the highway but will also make commuting difficult for locals. Adding fuel to the fire, the recent heavy rains dilapidated parts of the two-year-old M-8 and locals fear that heavy containers will further deteriorate the roads. Others say that the highway is well made but, being a single road, it will get blocked or slow down public transport when a convoy of five to 10 containers will drive on it. These perceptions will only be tested when the load will come on the highway.
Locals also think that this highway has been built to facilitate trade and oil supply to China. And the neighbouring country should set up an industry, training institutions and other infrastructure alongside the road for the development of the area. These narratives appear to be a bit simplistic. The highway was planned before the CPEC and the Chinese footprints in the province. Nonetheless, these claims say a lot about the high hopes locals have pinned on the highway.
The locals are, however, not the only ones placing high hopes on these development projects.
“Urbanisation has a great role in bringing about these changes. It has upgraded people’s lives, their income levels and their well-being. Political activists might view all this with ridicule and describe these observations as naive but, from a purely sociological, economic and statistical point of view, this is a great story.”
ghazi52
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Computerization of land in Gawadar will help boost confidence of investors, business community and the people belonging to different segment of society wishing to set foots in this part of Balochistan.
The Economic zones, an international standard airport and other projects would open vast opportunities for the people wishing to invest in Gwadar areas, Director General Gwadar Development Authority, Shahzeb Khan Kakar expressed these views while talking to a private TV channel programs. Naeem Khan of Gawadar said that steps taken by the Balochistan government for land computerization would lure a large number of people aspiring to come to this part for establishing their business.
Those who had ignored the opportunity to acquire land in Gawadar, should think over it again to settle themselves there, he said.
He said that Gawadar was going to become a big business hub of this region. He urged the foreign and local investors to come forward and avail the opportunity for setting business projects in Balochistan.
..........
Lasbela University, Baluchistan
The Economic zones, an international standard airport and other projects would open vast opportunities for the people wishing to invest in Gwadar areas, Director General Gwadar Development Authority, Shahzeb Khan Kakar expressed these views while talking to a private TV channel programs. Naeem Khan of Gawadar said that steps taken by the Balochistan government for land computerization would lure a large number of people aspiring to come to this part for establishing their business.
Those who had ignored the opportunity to acquire land in Gawadar, should think over it again to settle themselves there, he said.
He said that Gawadar was going to become a big business hub of this region. He urged the foreign and local investors to come forward and avail the opportunity for setting business projects in Balochistan.
..........
Lasbela University, Baluchistan
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ghazi52
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The work in progress on 19 Kilometers long,4 lanes East Bay Expressway at Gwadar Port.Will connect port and free zone to facilitate logistic supply chain-will optimise port operations. 64 % work completed so far..
ghazi52
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Govt allows import of wheat, sugar, fertiliser at Gwadar Port
--Trucks with tracking device will be allowed to transport goods countrywide and Afghanistan
The federal government has allowed the import of wheat, sugar and fertilisers at the Gwadar Port and onward transit to Afghanistan through bonded carriers- insured and sealable trucks having a tracking device.
The Ministry of Commerce (MoC), on the request of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), the Gwadar International Terminals Limited and other stakeholders, has issued an Office Memorandum (MO) titled ‘Implementation of the import and export policy orders through shipping procedure and instructions for operationalisation of the Gwadar Port’.
The ministry has been approached with the request to allow import of Afghan bulk cargo at the Gwadar Port and onward transit to Afghanistan through sealable trucks.
The petitions of all stakeholders have been examined in the light of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), 2010 Article 21(1)(c) of the APTTA, 2010 that allows transit of “bulk cargo (not imported in containers — like ship load) in open trucks or other transport units”, notification stated
--Trucks with tracking device will be allowed to transport goods countrywide and Afghanistan
The federal government has allowed the import of wheat, sugar and fertilisers at the Gwadar Port and onward transit to Afghanistan through bonded carriers- insured and sealable trucks having a tracking device.
The Ministry of Commerce (MoC), on the request of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), the Gwadar International Terminals Limited and other stakeholders, has issued an Office Memorandum (MO) titled ‘Implementation of the import and export policy orders through shipping procedure and instructions for operationalisation of the Gwadar Port’.
The ministry has been approached with the request to allow import of Afghan bulk cargo at the Gwadar Port and onward transit to Afghanistan through sealable trucks.
The petitions of all stakeholders have been examined in the light of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), 2010 Article 21(1)(c) of the APTTA, 2010 that allows transit of “bulk cargo (not imported in containers — like ship load) in open trucks or other transport units”, notification stated
ghazi52
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110 Km ....Khuzdar-Basima Highway N-30 under construction.Estimated Cost 19.19 Billion Rupee.
The project is located in District Khuzdar in #Baluchistan province. The project is construction of 2-lane highway from Basima to Khuzdar. The project length is 110 km.
Photo Credit:Naseer Memon
The project is located in District Khuzdar in #Baluchistan province. The project is construction of 2-lane highway from Basima to Khuzdar. The project length is 110 km.
Photo Credit:Naseer Memon
ghazi52
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CDWP approved 4 lanes 22.5 Km Quetta Western Bypass and Dera Murad Jamali Bypass
First project titled “Dualization of Quetta Western Bypass” worth Rs. 7103.78 million was approved in the meeting. The project envisages the dualization of the existing two-lane 22.5 km long Quetta Western bypass to four lanes. The additional two lanes will be 7.3 meter wide, the second project titled “Construction of Dera Murad Jamali Bypass on National Highway N-65” worth Rs. 2143.465 million was also approved by the forum
First project titled “Dualization of Quetta Western Bypass” worth Rs. 7103.78 million was approved in the meeting. The project envisages the dualization of the existing two-lane 22.5 km long Quetta Western bypass to four lanes. The additional two lanes will be 7.3 meter wide, the second project titled “Construction of Dera Murad Jamali Bypass on National Highway N-65” worth Rs. 2143.465 million was also approved by the forum
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