Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
The Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs met on Friday under the chairpersonship of Senator Rubina Khalid to discuss the steps taken by the Ministry for the allocation of operation and maintenance funds for Pakistan China Technical and Vocational Institute, Gawdar and also for acquiring the remaining Gwadar Port land as per Gwadar Port Master Plan.
The Committee was informed that the building of the Pakistan China Technical and Vocational Institute, Gwadar has been completed with the Chinese grant. Some physical works to be completed by the Pakistan side are pending for which a revised PC-I has been submitted to the MoPDSI and authorization letter from MoPDSI is still awaited. The Committee was further informed that funds for the operation and maintenance of Pakistan China Technical and Vocational Institute, Gwadar are not available.
Chairman Gwadar Port Authority informed the Committee that efforts are being made to start Diploma Courses in the Institute in collaboration with Shandong Institute of China for 03 years to run the institute on Chinese Model.
The Chairman Gwadar Port Authority informed the committee that a budget of Rs300 million annually was demanded for the operation and maintenance of Pakistan China Technical and Vocational Institute, Gwadar, but the same has not been approved by the Federal Government. The Committee directed the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to approach the MoPDSI again for seeking funds for the operation and maintenance of Pakistan China Technical and Vocational Institute, Gwadar and also approach the Prime Minister for the same.
The Committee was informed that a summary was put up to the then Prime Minister in January, 2019 for acquisition of land for Gwadar Port as per Gwadar Port Master Plan. The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to make a presentation in this regard. The Ministry approached the PM Office for a presentation, but the presentation could not take place in the last 3 years. Senator Kauda Babar was of the view that Gwadar Port Authority was not utilizing the already acquired land, so there was no need to acquire more land. The Committee was informed that the Government of Balochistan has imposed a ban on land acquisition in Gwadar.
Chairman GPA requested the Committee to approach the Government of Balochistan for lifting of ban to the extent of Gwadar port for acquisition of land as per the Gwadar port Master Plan. The Ministry also sought help from the Committee to direct the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives for restoration of PSDP projects titled “Land Acquisition as per Gwadar Port Master Plan” with significant allocation to enable Gwadar Port Authority to start land acquisition.
The meeting was attended by Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, Abida Muhammad Azeem, Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Kauda Babar, Danesh Kumar, Moula Bux Chandio, Dost Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Akram and Senator Saifullah Abro. Chairman Gwadar Port Authority along with officers of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs were also in attendance.
