PM announces to build new airport at Gwadar
By Saad Mansoor - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

GWADAR: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Saturday that the federal government is spending a record 134 billion rupees on mega projects for development in Balochistan.

“This has never happened before in the history of Balochistan,” the Prime Minister said amid applause, while speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of Gwadar Port Civic Center.

Governor Balochistan Owais Ahmed Ghani, Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf, Minister for Port and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri, Minister for Social Welfare and Special Eduction Zubaida Jalal and Minister for Petroleum Naseer Mengal were present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister said that this year rupees 21 billion have been allocated for Balochistan under the annual development programme, which is about 10.5 percent of the total outlay. This is more than the share of Balochistan in terms of population ratio to other provinces, he added.

He said the coastal highway which remained neglected during the previous governments has been completed. This highway has changed the life style wherever it touches along the coast of Balochistan, he noted.

The Prime Minister said that a major change has been brought about in Gwadar during the last four years due to the mega projects and brisk development activity taking place in the area.

“These results have been possible with the help of sincere, honest and committed efforts of the government,” he said. Anybody spreading negative propaganda will be defeated in his efforts as people want to see development and better life rather than just hollow slogans, he said.

Shaukat Aziz vowed to take Pakistan forward on the road of development and prosperity and added that never before in the history of Pakistan such development schemes were carried out by any government.

People have been witnessing progress on these projects and therefore they would reject pessimistic elements, he said. He said when President Pervez Musharraf took charge six years ago, the government did not have sufficient funds even to pay salaries as the national kitty was empty.

The Prime Minister said that whatever was visualized by President Musharraf six years ago has been realized and added that more development would take place in Balochistan. He said that Gwadar was a backward town and the government wanted to convert it into a modern city equipped with all facilities and resorts to attract local and foreign tourists. Gwadar port will generate economic activity in the area and road network will connect it with Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia as the most important route in the region for transportation, he said. He said the government will build a new airport at Gwadar with all the modern aviation facilities and renovate the existing airport and improve terminal building to facilitate the current air traffic. This airport will accommodate large aircraft and jets. He said the second phase of Gwadar port will start after the completion of phase-I. The Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) has been asked to make this port operational and market its facilities.

Shaukat Aziz advised the people of Balochistan to welcome investment in Gwadar. “The world has changed and this is the era of globalization and you must welcome investors in Gwadar,” he added.

Citing example of Dubai, he said investors can freely set up a factory or buy property there and Gwadar should also open up for such investment. Whoever talks against this approach is not a friend of the people of Gwadar and Pakistan, he observed. Addressing Senator Ismail Buledi on this occasion, the prime minister in a lighter mood said that opposition also support “our good work.”

He said the opposition should make positive criticism and also suggest remedies to help the government in redressal of the problems. Shaukat said that the government wanted to set up a mega refinery at Gawadar to refine crude and supply it in the region. It is however a mega project and will take time. Shaukat Aziz announced that utility store in Gwadar will be operational before the start of Ramazan. He said that 500 out of 1000 houses will be given to fishermen in the housing scheme at Sur Bandar area.

Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Gwadar Industrial Estate on Saturday. Prime Minister announced the Federal Government has decided to construct a new international airport of world class standard at Gwadar with state- of-the-art facility. He said that till the completion of the new international airport the existing airport is being upgraded and necessary facilities are being provided so that there can be frequent communication between Karachi and Gwadar.

The Prime Minister said that the Gwadar will not only be an industrial hub, but also attract tourist since it has got great potential for tourism. The Prime Minister said that this is a historic day and pointed out that six years ago when President General Pervez Musharraf took over power, he saw a dream of making a world class port in Gwadar and added that today we are seeing this dream becoming a reality.

He said that the President took up the matter of building of Gwadar port with Prime Minister of China who had readily agreed to the proposal, so this port is a gift of China.●