Tension in Dera Bugti not completely defused: CM
By Shakeel Tariq - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

DUDDAR: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf has said that although some progress has been made on Dera Bugti issue, tension has not been completely defused.

"To some extent issues have been settled in Dera Bugti, but the situation is not fully defused," said the chief minister while talking to Karachi-based journalists at Duddar, a remote area of Balochistan, where Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz inaugurated a 106-kilometre Windar-Kanraj road project the other day.

Referring to the recent visits of parliamentarians and PML President Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain to Dera Bugti, Jam said a joint committee, comprising representatives of the federal government and Nawab Akbar Bugti, was formed as a result of these visits which would address the issues of Dera Bugti. "So far Akbar Bugti has not nominated his representative," he added.

The Issue

The issues of Dera Bugti include land, provision of employment to the locals and the Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Jam said, adding that the joint committee would give its recommendations on these issues.

When quizzed about reservation of his government on National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, the chief minister said gas royalty to the province was the main issue regarding the NFC Award. "We do not have any major reservation. President Pervez Musharraf has taken several good decision and we believe he will take a better decision on the NFC Award issue also," he hoped.

Regarding the Windar-Kanraj road project, Jam said that after the construction of the road, Sarona area, where gas exploration is under way, would be linked with Kanraj and later, the same road would be linked to Khuzdar.

Responding to a question regarding issue of land allotment in Gwadar, the chief minister said some people had managed to get some lands transferred in their names illegally and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) along with the Balochistan government was investigating into such illegal allotments.

Gwadar port opening put off

Meanwhile, another report says that the inauguration of a Chinese-financed deep-sea port at Gwadar has been delayed. The $248 million port at Gwadar, 480 km west of Karachi, was completed in January, 12 weeks ahead of schedule.

China, a long-time ally of Pakistan had provided $198 million for the port project in grants, soft loans and credits. The remaining $50 million came from the Pakistani government.

Gwadar, close to Iran and the Gulf states, is looking to handle transhipment traffic for the Gulf and ports on the Arabian Peninsula. Pakistan also plans to use it as the main trade link with land-locked Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Credible sources say that either President Pervez Musharraf or Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would inaugurate the port. "But no date has been finalised so far." "The port is ready. We await the completion of the repair work of roads and other infrastructure damaged by recent rains," the sources said.●