QUETTA: Zahoor Buledi, the Senior Minister for Planning and Development in Balochistan, has announced that the provincial government will soon introduce a law for ship-breaking. They will also ask the federal government to officially recognize the Gadani ship-breaking business as a formal industry.
Minister Buledi visited the Gadani ship-breaking yard on Monday and chaired a meeting. During this visit, he emphasized that the Balochistan government is working hard to create a safe and peaceful environment for investors and the local community in Gadani.
The meeting focused on improving the Balochistan Development Authority (BDA). Ideas were shared to help make the BDA more effective and support more development projects in the region.
Plans to Modernize Gadani Ship-Breaking Yard
Minister Buledi also discussed plans to modernize the Gadani ship-breaking yard. He encouraged the BDA to develop a plan to improve human resources in the area, which would directly benefit the local people.
The minister shared that the federal government has approved a Rs 12 billion project to upgrade Gadani into a “model ship-breaking yard.” This project will help the industry grow and offer better facilities to investors.
The government is also working on a plan to recycle old ships in an environmentally safe way, following the Hong Kong Convention guidelines.
A Key Industry for Pakistan’s Economy
The Gadani ship-breaking industry not only generates important tax revenue but also plays a major role in Pakistan’s economic growth. The recycled materials from the ships are used in the steel industry and other related sectors, providing jobs for many people.
The BDA chairman gave a presentation on the development plans, which include better roads, a new 30-bed hospital, a modern rescue center, fire station, one-window facilitation center, and an improved water supply system.
Additionally, there are ongoing projects to safely manage and store hazardous waste created during ship recycling at Gadani.
Challenges Facing the Industry
The ship-breakers association pointed out that the industry has been negatively affected by the illegal smuggling of non-custom-paid scrap from Iran. This issue is hurting local businesses, and they asked the government to take action to stop it. By doing this, they believe the government can increase tax revenue and support the growth of the industry.
Minister Buledi praised the suggestions from the ship-breakers association and promised to take the matter up with the federal government for further action.
