January 17, 2003	Friday	Ziqa'ad 13, 1423

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QUETTA, Jan 16: Chief Minister Jam Mohammed Yousaf has said that the Gwadar deep-sea port will give a boost to the economic activities and the people will benefit from the industrial boom in the area.

He was talking to a group of trainee officers of the Information Group, Islamabad, which called on him on Wednesday. The team was led by the DG of the National Information Academy, Saeeda Tahirkheli.

Mr Yousaf said that the government would prepare a master plan to develop an industrial zone in the area and investors, industrialists, businessmen and traders would be invited for a trip to Gwadar and would welcome their suggestions and proposals.

He brushed aside the impression that the local Baloch population would be reduced to a minority with the completion of the Gwadar port.

The chief minister informed the information officers that many countries including Muscat and Oman were interested in developing the port and a modern city in the area.

About the industrial recession he was of the view that the past governments’ policies of granting a tax holiday at first and then withdrawing it gave a severe blow to the investment in Balochistan and said that many entities were either closed or shifted to other provinces.

The chief minister said that his government was ready to extend incentives to the investors to put the industrialization process in the province on the road to progress.

He was hopeful of the funds from the centre for the province according to the need and requirements of Balochistan.

The revenue from the natural gas was the main source of income, however, what the province received from other sources was not satisfactory, Mr Yousaf said and added that he would try to overcome the financial crunch.

Bhootani: Provincial Assembly Deputy Speaker Mir Mohammad Aslam Bhootani has said that Balochistan was deprived of its constitutional share in the NFC Award by the all previous governments, and Islamabad have to pay Rs17 billion.

Speaking to newsmen here on Wednesday, he said that Balochistan’s uplift was suffered a lot due to not receiving its due share from the federal government, and thus the province remained backward in various sectors.