27 April 2005	Wednesday	17 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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ISLAMABAD, April 26: The Balochistan government has agreed to allocate 1,407 acres to the federal government for establishment of a cantonment by the army in Gwadar, the defence ministry informed the Senate on Tuesday.

The ministry, in response to a question by Senator Ismail Buledi, informed the Senate: “In compliance with the directive of the president and prime minister of Pakistan, a proposal to establish a new cantonment in coastal area of Balochistan (Gwadar) is under process.”

In reply to a question about the land allocated, the ministry said: “For establishment of a cantonment at Gwadar, government of Balochistan was requested to transfer provincial government land measuring 1,407 acres, three rods and 24 poles to the federal government for use by Pakistan Army. The provincial government of Balochistan has agreed, in principle, to transfer the said land to the federal government.”

Senator Sanaullah Baloch told Dawn: “The decision to allocate land for establishment of cantonment in Gwadar is against the spirit of a resolution passed unanimously by the Balochistan Assembly in October 2003, which said there was no need of cantonment in the area.”

He said the navy and air force had a heavy presence in the area with their bases and the amount required for constructing the cantonment should be utilized for establishment of universities and other professional institutes in Balochistan.

LAND LEASE: In reply to a question by Senator Farhatullah Babar, the ministry said a committee had been formed to regularize the lease of 7.3 acres of air force land located at Faisal Base, Karachi, to the management of the City School Network for 25 years.

The ministry said the category 1-A land, meant for defence installations and military exercises, could be “leased out under the rules after change in classification of the land.”

Senator Babar told Dawn: “The defence ministry has admitted that the transaction was illegal and a committee had been formed to legalize an illegality.”

NORTH WAZIRISTAN: In response to a question by Senator Mateen Shah, the ministry of states and frontier regions said no new primary schools were sanctioned for North Waziristan during 2004-05. However, seven primary schools had been approved for up-gradation to the middle school level in the annual development programme, it said.

In reply to another question, the ministry said no proposal was under consideration to launch a campaign for vaccination against hepatitis A, B and C in the agency.