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| October 24, 2006 | Tuesday | Ramazan 30, 1427 |
Balochistan govt defends Gwadar land allotment
QUETTA, Oct 23: A spokesman for the Balochistan government has said that neither the chief minister nor the revenue minister or the revenue department have used any discretionary powers for allotment of land in Gwadar.
In a statement issued here on Sunday night, the spokesmen said the provincial government was carefully studying the instructions of the Supreme Court’s Quetta bench regarding land allotment in Gwadar with care for taking steps to ensure their implementation.
He said: “The provincial government has allotted government land to the federal and provincial institutions only for development projects of Gwadar keeping in view all legal requirements and has maintained its proper record.
He said the land was being used for the construction of basic infrastructure of Gwadar port, government offices, a culture centre, sports complex, hospitals, educational institutions and parks.
The spokesman said allotment in the Singhar Housing Scheme was started in 1991 and plots had been allotted in four phases before the formation of the present government.
He said allotment for the fifth phase of the scheme had not been started as the government was preparing a comprehensive policy in this connection. The government was considering various suggestions in connection with the allotment, including a proposal to hold a draw for the purpose, he said.
He said the provincial government had cancelled all allotments in the New Township in Gwadar due to irregularities. The government was preparing a policy for re-allotment of plots in the housing scheme.
He said that 2,000 acres of government land had been allotted for setting up the Gwadar Industrial Estate on instructions of the prime minister and the government had fulfilled all legal requirements in allotment of industrial plots.
“Advertisement were published in newspapers for the allotment of industrial plots and after carefully reviewing all applications received from different areas of the country and abroad the plots were allotted to industrialists who fulfilled all conditions of the government,” the spokesman said.
He clarified that the government had provided alternate land to the residents of Gwadar whose land had been utilised for the construction and expansion of the port and the Gwadar master plan.
The spokesman said the chief minister dealt with all administrative matters as chairman of the board of directors of the Gwadar Development Authority, including those related to private housing schemes, in accordance with rules and regulations.
The spokesman said that some elements were hatching conspiracies to hinder domestic and foreign investment in Gwadar. He said local and foreign investors were taking interest in investing in Gwadar.
“The provincial government will make legislation for best utilisation of land in and around Gwadar,” he said.
He said a large number of disputes among families of the land owners in Gwadar were pending in various courts and now the Supreme Court had issued instructions with reference of the cases.
He said the provincial government would implement the instructions.
He said the provincial government was trying to take steps for the protection of state as well as private land in Gwadar and it would make legislation in this regard if needed.
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