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High priority attaches to socio-economic development of Balochistan: PM Gilani

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GWADAR: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said the government attaches high priority to the socio-economic development of Balochistan and will utilize all resources for the uplift of the people of the province, which has been neglected in the past.

The Prime Minister expressed these views as he was given briefings on the new Gwadar International Airport and the Gwadar Deep Sea Port here on board a ship at the Gwadar Port.

Secretary Defence and Director General Civil Aviation Authority briefed the Prime Minister about the new airport project, which is to be constructed at 4300 acres of land, six times larger than the existing airport in Gwadar and will be completed in three years after the start of work.

Master plan for the project, for which a PC-1 of Rs. 7.5 billion has already been approved with an allocation of Rs. 750 million in the current Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), has been finalized and survey completed.

The passenger terminal for Gwadar International Airport is perceived to facilitate 350,000 per year passenger traffic by 2020, and the Prime Minister was further informed that Oman, which has already contributed $ 17.5 million for the project, was ready to provide another $ 100 million after the work on airport starts.

In a briefing on Gwadar Port, the Secretary Ports and Shipping, announced that the first phase of Gwadar Deep Sea Port constructed at a cost of Rs. 17 billion was meant to realize the trans-shipment, transit trade and national import and exports need of the country.

The meeting was informed that Gwadar which is strategically located has an enormous trade potential, which could not only help alleviate poverty and boost the socio-economic uplift of Balochistan but will contribute in the National economy through transit trade, as it would serve as a trade gateway not only for the up-country but also the regional countries including Central Asian States and China.

The Prime Minister was informed that after the cabinet decision in 2008 to allow the shipment of wheat and fertilizers through Gwadar Port for their onward transportation to other parts of the country, 80 ships were anchored on the port.

The meeting was informed that this decision greatly helped operationlize the port and generated huge business activity in the area as 80,000 truckloads were transported to Karachi, with no incident of robbery or dacoity.

Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Akbar Raeesani, Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghauri, Advisor to PM Education, Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali, State Minister for Ports and Shipping Nabeel Gabol and senior officials were present on the occasion.

End.