ISLAMABAD: With the aim to handle flow of Customs revenues after operationalisation of Gwadar port and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the federal government has decided to construct Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) at Gwadar.
Federal Board of Revenue had demanded Rs2525.25 million cost of the project, which is scheduled to be completed by 2020. However, the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) has allocated Rs110 million for fiscal year 2017-18.
The project includes construction of office and residential facilities to meet essential requirements in wake of CPEC. Currently MCC buildings exist in rented premises at Gwadar Port Authority (GPA).
The existing Custom House, located on the eastern bay road next to the port, will be demolished by GPA for the construction of Eastern Bay Highway which will connect Gwadar port to the coastal highway.
A piece of land measuring 11.2 acres was purchased by FBR for the construction of MCC Gwadar at Ankara Janubi, which in close proximity to Gwadar port, the documents said.
The project include the construction of MCC main office block (G+2) with a covered area of 109500 SFT and the residential accommodation will include two units of category-one bungalow and 64 apartments of different categories , security barracks, dispensary, mosque, guest house and warehouse.
However the physical planning & housing section of the Planning Commission recommended that construction of housing facility is banned as per cabinet decision of 1995; therefore, the project may be executed in phased manners.
Under Phase-I only offices and other necessary facilities be constructed and the 2nd phase be started after soliciting exemption from the prime minister regarding ban on construction of housing facility.
The cost of the offices and other necessary facilities under Phase-I has been worked out as Rs860.947million. The Central Development Working Party has already approved the project with the estimated cost of Rs1.5 billion.
