30 January 2005	Sunday	19 Zilhaj 1425

QUETTA, Jan 29: Federal Minister for Shipping and Ports Babar Ghori has stated that the Central Asian States (CARs) are interested in using Gwadar seaport for transportation as it locates nearest to those countries and would be cheaper and time-saving harbour for them.

Talking to newsmen in the press club here on Saturday, he said big international companies would also use the port after expansion in its width.

The revenue from Gwadar port, he said, would bring prosperity in the area and facilitate provision of basic amenities and employment to the jobless youth.

He also said tribal chiefs and the public representatives were not against the uplift programme, and maintained that Baloch political parties during discussions had expressed apprehensions about the mega projects, but if they would be redressed, the problem would be resolved.

The federal minister said the local leaders should be taken into confidence to help settle all issues amicably.

On the complaints of the nationalist political groups about job quota, he said the federal cabinet had decided that recruitment in the port from grade one to 16 would be provided to the natives.

If the local technical hand was not available, outsiders would be employed, but only for a short period.

Mr Ghori claimed that some local people had been selected for technical training at the Karachi Port Trust and after completing their training, they would be employed in the Gwadar port. So far only 12 persons had been appointed in the Gwadar port, he added.

He clarified that all the development projects in Gwadar had been determined by the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) which was under control of the province, but it had nothing to do with development work.

Mr Babar condemned a reported attack on the offices of the daily Jang and its television channel, saying that it was against the freedom of the Press. Attackers were raising the name of Islam, which would convey wrong message to the world community and distort the image of the religion, he said and demanded that the provincial government should take a strict action against the anti-social elements.

Later, the minister presented to press club president Rashid Baig drafts of Rs100,000 on behalf of his ministry and Rs50,000 from Muttahida leader Altaf Hussain, respectively, for the Quetta Press Club.