ISLAMABAD: The long standing issue of establishment of a Fish Harbour in Gaddani, Balochistan, is now near to resolution because the federal government and Ministry of Ports and Shipping have become near to decide the fate of this project. Gadani Fish Harbor is located in Lasbela District of Balochistan.
This project was initiated in 2001, however, no development could be made on this project due to a number of reasons. This project was launched by private sector, however, provincial government of Balochistan spent Rs 600 million in the early stages of this project.
Source at Ministry of Ports and Shipping told Customs Today that a meeting of the steering committee formed on the said subject had been convened on 28th of the current month. The meeting will decide either to construct fish harbour at Gaddani or not.
The federal government provided land to the provincial government for the establishment of fish harbour in Gaddani with an objective to promote fishing industry as well as to generate employment opportunities for the youth in coastal areas.
Daily up to 15,000 people visit the coastal area in Gaddani, therefore, fish harbour can be helpful in creation of more job-oriented industries in this area.
In 2012, Balochistan Coastal Development Authority, invited tenders from the approved government contractors and local and international firms for completion/construction of on shore works of Damb Fish Landing Jetty, District Lasbela.
It is pertinent to note here that Gadani is a coastal village just a 1-hour drive away from Karachi and Gaddani Energy Park is an ambitious project of the new Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) government (announced in August 2013) to establish 10 coal power plants of total capacity of 6,600 MW with technical and financial assistance from China.
