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Prime Mini-ster Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said the government plans to develop Gwadar as a 'free port' along the lines of Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong ports. The Planning Commission has been tasked with an exercise to hire international consultants for this purpose, he said while talking to media persons here after attending a briefing on the pace of ongoing development projects in Balochistan.
Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik and Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif were also present on the occasion. The Prime Minister said the government had a broad-based plan for the development of Gwadar under which the port city would have a state-of-the-art airport and a fully developed seaport.
He said a new security force would also be raised for the security and protection of foreign nationals, particularly the Chinese citizens, working on various projects in the area. The Prime Minister said the civil and military leadership were on the same page and committed to working together towards making Pakistan a developed, peaceful and secure country and retrieve it from the challenges it was facing.
"We are together and want to retrieve the country from various challenges. We are committed and we will do it," he added. The Prime Minister said during the meeting that the matters relating to development of Balochistan, peace and security and Pak-China Economic Corridor were discussed. The ways and means to connect Kashgar (China) and Gwadar through road and rail links were deliberated in detail, he added. The Prime Minister said Director General Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) briefed the meeting about the pace of work on various road projects in the province.
Nawaz expressed his government's resolve to lay a network of roads in Balochistan during the current PML-N government's tenure. The Prime Minister appreciated DG FWO Major General Muhammad Afzal for his dedication in the development and construction work in Balochistan with the support of Army Staff. He said the development work in Balochistan by FWO was not aimed at making profits. The Prime Minister said he would also convene a cabinet meeting in Balochistan.
Nawaz was highly appreciative of the policies of reforms, good governance and merit, initiated by Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik. "He is doing a good job," he remarked. Earlier, during the briefing, the PM was apprised that in relation to Pak-China Economic Corridor, Rs 162 billion had been allocated for Balochistan only. He was informed that the provision of clean drinking, a 300-bed hospital, a technical training centre, a 19-km expressway and the expansion of airport and port had also been planned for Gwadar.
The PM appreciated the role of federal agencies, Army, FC and police towards improving the law and order situation in Balochistan during the last 10 months. He directed the Finance Minister to release Rs 1.6 billion for the dredging of port. The PM said Gwadar should be developed as a free port along the lines of Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong ports, adding that interests of local people should be protected while developing Gwadar.
The PM said the development of Gwadar would prove to be a game changer not only for Balochistan but for the region. The PM and the Chief Minister appreciated the services of DG FWO for ensuring quality, transparency in development and construction work through a fast-track process. The Chief Minister Balochistan while thanking the PM said that for the first time in the history of the province, 78 percent development budget had been released till now and Rs 110 billion had been received under the 7th NFC Award for Balochistan.
Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2014
Gwadar a 'free port': Prime Minister for development along the lines of Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore ports | Business Recorder
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I must appreciate his ambitions
Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik and Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif were also present on the occasion. The Prime Minister said the government had a broad-based plan for the development of Gwadar under which the port city would have a state-of-the-art airport and a fully developed seaport.
He said a new security force would also be raised for the security and protection of foreign nationals, particularly the Chinese citizens, working on various projects in the area. The Prime Minister said the civil and military leadership were on the same page and committed to working together towards making Pakistan a developed, peaceful and secure country and retrieve it from the challenges it was facing.
"We are together and want to retrieve the country from various challenges. We are committed and we will do it," he added. The Prime Minister said during the meeting that the matters relating to development of Balochistan, peace and security and Pak-China Economic Corridor were discussed. The ways and means to connect Kashgar (China) and Gwadar through road and rail links were deliberated in detail, he added. The Prime Minister said Director General Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) briefed the meeting about the pace of work on various road projects in the province.
Nawaz expressed his government's resolve to lay a network of roads in Balochistan during the current PML-N government's tenure. The Prime Minister appreciated DG FWO Major General Muhammad Afzal for his dedication in the development and construction work in Balochistan with the support of Army Staff. He said the development work in Balochistan by FWO was not aimed at making profits. The Prime Minister said he would also convene a cabinet meeting in Balochistan.
Nawaz was highly appreciative of the policies of reforms, good governance and merit, initiated by Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik. "He is doing a good job," he remarked. Earlier, during the briefing, the PM was apprised that in relation to Pak-China Economic Corridor, Rs 162 billion had been allocated for Balochistan only. He was informed that the provision of clean drinking, a 300-bed hospital, a technical training centre, a 19-km expressway and the expansion of airport and port had also been planned for Gwadar.
The PM appreciated the role of federal agencies, Army, FC and police towards improving the law and order situation in Balochistan during the last 10 months. He directed the Finance Minister to release Rs 1.6 billion for the dredging of port. The PM said Gwadar should be developed as a free port along the lines of Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong ports, adding that interests of local people should be protected while developing Gwadar.
The PM said the development of Gwadar would prove to be a game changer not only for Balochistan but for the region. The PM and the Chief Minister appreciated the services of DG FWO for ensuring quality, transparency in development and construction work through a fast-track process. The Chief Minister Balochistan while thanking the PM said that for the first time in the history of the province, 78 percent development budget had been released till now and Rs 110 billion had been received under the 7th NFC Award for Balochistan.
Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2014
Gwadar a 'free port': Prime Minister for development along the lines of Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore ports | Business Recorder
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I must appreciate his ambitions
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