ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel told that the tax incentives for Gwadar port are not possible while being in the International Monetary Fund programme. The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, which met with Senator Quratulain Marri in chair, expressed concern over the five-year delay in dam construction in Balochistan and directed that project-wise details be presented at the upcoming meeting.
The Committee was briefed on the Sukkur-Hyderabad-Karachi Motorways, the realignment of the Karakoram Highway and development projects of Gawadar. Senators Jam Saifullah Khan, Shahadat Awan, Zeeshan Khanzada and Afnan Ullah Khan attended the committee meeting. Official of the Gwadar Development Authority, while briefing the committee, informed that more than Rs14 billion have been received for the development of Gwadar under the Gwadar Master Plan. Gwadar Development Plan is worth Rs 25 billion, GDA official added.
While providing an update on the projects in Gwadar, it was revealed that a 253-km road has been constructed as per the Master Plan road network. A 50-bed hospital has been constructed on 68 acres, a state-of-the-art school has been built on 84 acres, public parks covering 20 acres have been developed, and 300 acres have been reserved for the establishment of a sports complex. The committee also discussed issues related to the operationalization of Gwadar. Official of the Planning Ministry informed that charges of Gwadar Port are higher as compare to other regional ports. There are also security issues in Gwadar, the official maintained.
The chairperson of the committee said that tax incentives should be given to Gwadar Port for attracting investment. However, the official said Pakistan is currently under the IMF programme. “Tax incentives are not possible while being in the IMF program,” he added. Committee member Afnan Ullah Khan said that work should be done to promote foreign investment in Gwadar.
