GWADAR: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated the government’s firm resolve and commitment to extensively develop the Gwadar Sea Port as one of the best in the world.
The Prime Minister made this statement during a laptop and cheques distribution ceremony held here on Thursday. He added that the ongoing development operation in Baluchistan would prove to be a catalyst in changing the fate of the people of the province, including Gwadar.
Shehbaz Sharif further mentioned that after Nawaz Sharif became the Prime Minister of the country for the third time in 2013, he planned and launched dozens of projects in power, infrastructure, and other sectors in Gwadar. However, he lamented that when he visited last year, he was shocked to note that the previous government had stopped working on all the projects in the city.
Significance of Gawadar Port
The Prime Minister emphasized that Baluchistan has sufficient resources of minerals and other natural resources that need to be explored, and the benefits of the development in the area would be passed on to the local masses.
He informed that the Gwadar port was one of the deepest among the world’s top ports. However, dredging of the port, which is a continuous process to prevent accumulating silt, was not ensured by the last PTI-led government. He added that the incumbent government has now initiated the dredging process, which would be completed by February next year.
He deplored that from 2017 to 2022, only 100,000 tons of goods could arrive here while goods of more than 600,000 tons reached Gwadar Port during the 15 months of the current government.
PM Increases Laptop Quota for Baluchistan
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced an increase in the laptop quota for Baluchistan up to 14% against the 6% population share of the province. He also issued further directions to the concerned authorities to plan for a further increase in the quota to 18% for the next fiscal year.
He also directed the relevant authorities to prioritize the security of foreigners.
Regarding the distribution of the laptop scheme, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Youth Affairs, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, apprised that over one million laptops had been delivered since the launch of the laptop scheme by Shehbaz Sharif as Chief Minister of Punjab. She further stated that as per the new laptop quota, about 14,000 laptops would be distributed among the talented students of Baluchistan this year.
