PHOTO: FILE
The issue was raised by Senator Kauda Babar during a meeting held under the chairmanship of Senator Nuzhat Sadiq.
Senators Khushbakht Shujaat, Moula Bux Chandio, Muhammad Akram, Rana Mahmoodul Hassan, Joint Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Shazia Rizvi and Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) Chairman Dostain Khan Jamaldini among other senior officials of the ministry were present on the occasion.
The committee reviewed the budget allocation of Fiscal Year 2018-19 and its utilisation during the first six months.
Regarding the establishment of 300 MW Coal Power Plant at Gwadar, GPA Chairman Jamaldini informed the committee that it was under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and sponsored by energy division.
He said that being the main stakeholder and end user of electricity for operations and development of the port, Gwadar Port Free Zone and other projects, GPA strongly urges quick start of the power plant.
Last year, a delegation of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) visited Gwadar and had a complete review of tariff issues of the project. The team held hearing on review application submitted by the Chinese Investment Company of the project.
To this, the committee summoned the NEPRA officials in the next meeting.
On installation of desalination plant in the port city, Jamaldini informed the committee that the project pertains to the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA).
They have initiated a project for production of five million gallon of desalinated water per day, he added.
For use in GPA complex, head office, fish harbour, the chairman said the GPA was constructing an additional reverse osmosis (RO) plant within the port area, and both the projects were in tendering stage.
It was also informed that a small liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal and storage facility has already been established in the port, which will be operational very soon.
Additionally, an air-mix LPG plant is being planned within GPA Business Complex on public private partnership.
The ministry was told to send a request to Ministry of Communication for preparation of PC-I for construction of the remaining portion of the motorway (M-8).
Regarding the issuance of statutory regulatory orders (SROs), granting exemption from taxes as per concession agreement with the Chinese company, the committee was apprised that the matter being pursued with the government of Balochistan.
Transshipment rules would be framed by Pakistan Customs and the ministry was requested to take up the matter with Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
On the issue of possession of land for the Eastbay Expressway, the issue was still pending with the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior for decision.
The meeting was also informed that the issue of non-operational of fibre optic connection to Gwadar with the IT telecommunication division has now finally been resolved.
Expressing concerns over Eastbay Expressway project, Senator Babar said the six metre width and 45 metre length underpass should be extended. To this, GDA Chairman Jamaldini responded that Rs3 billion would be spent on the project.
It was further informed that seven ongoing and six new projects were included in the Public Sector Development Projects (PSDP) that worth Rs23,333 million.
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