ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Port & Shipping Ali Zaidi said that the government is committed to make Gwadar Port fully operational at the earliest with two ways traffic.
The Sub-Committee of Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs in its meeting on Wednesday discussed issues related to Gwadar Port, expressway to Gwadar, issues related to design and the concerns of fishermen regarding the expressway.
The meeting was chaired by Convener Senator Kauda Babar and was attended among others by Senator Shamim Afridi, Senator Maula Bakhsh Chandio, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi, Member Balochistan Assembly from Gwadar Mir Hammal Kalmati, Chairman Gwadar Port Authority Dostain Jamaldini, Director General Gwadar Development Authority Dr. Sajid, Chairman China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC).
The committee was told by the minister that the summary by COPHC regarding their problems and work at Gwadar Port was studied in detail by him and his ministry and said that the delay in signing the summary was due to the need of carrying out due diligence at the part of Pakistan government.
Chairman Committee, members of the Committee and special invitee Mir Hammal had a considered opinion that people of Gwadar should be given most benefits of the development and growth being brought in for the port and city.
The matter of fishermen being affected by the design and plan of the expressway to Gwadar was discussed at length by the committee. The Committee was assured by the minister as well by Chairman Gwadar Port Authority that fishermen will be taken on board during the whole process of the completion of expressway and their concerns will be addressed.
