Gwadar ship-breaking yard project okayed

CM decides to form task force to fight drought

QUETTA: Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved establishing Gwadar ship-breaking yard while a policy board was being formed with Balochistan chief minister being a member.

It was informed during a high-level meeting chaired by CM Jam Kamal to review the ship-breaking yard project in the port city on Monday. Finance Minister Asad Umar and Federal Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal were also present.

Umar had arrived in Balochistan to meet provincial leadership and stakeholders.

The meeting was told that a document and PC1 of Gwadar ship-breaking yard was presented in 2007 but the scheme couldn’t be pursued due to lack of interest by previous governments.



The project has been approved on partnership basis with induction of fabrication workshop, training workshop and parking stations.

“Government of Balochistan will welcome all projects in the better interest of people of the province,” said CM Kamal and lauded centre’s initiative of providing a share to Balochistan.

It has been estimated that the project would fill the needs of shipping and create job opportunities for local population.

The CM was briefed about land allocation for the proposed ship-breaking yard.

During the meeting, the finance minister said the federal government acknowledges all provincial government’s decisions related to its resources.

“All decisions regarding Balochistan and Gwadar would be made by taking on board the provincial government,” said Umar.



It was unanimously agreed that approval of Gwadar Master Plan and other affairs would be completed with joint decision of federal, provincial governments and other stakeholders.

Task force for drought-hit areas

Moreover, a task force would be formed under the supervision of CM Kamal to tackle drought in the province. The CM would also review the relief operations being carried out in the drought-hit areas.

It came during a meeting with a delegation of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund and World Health Organisation led by Ayou Al Jawaldeh.

Kamal said the provincial government has been paying full attention to relief operations in the drought-stricken region and making sure timely relief for the affected families migrating to other districts.

“Provincial government is establishing a task force comprising representatives of various government departments and members of civil society to prepare a solid policy regarding relief operations in drought hit regions,” the CM said.

He also said the provincial government has been taking speedy steps for betterment of health and education facilities while divisional and district hospitals were being functionalised.

“Nutrition emergency has already been declared in Balochistan while emergency measures were being taken to overcome maternal and infant mortality rate in the province”.

The delegation lauded the efforts and assured the CM of their organisations’ full support in mitigating drought in the province.