July 20, 2008	Sunday	Rajab 16, 1429

HUNZA, July 19: The Minister for Finance and Privatisation, Syed Naveed Qamar has assured that the real stakeholder of Sost Dry Port will be given their due rights. He was talking to a delegation of Pakistan Peoples Party, Hunza chapter, during his visit to the picturesque valley for the inauguration of the Ahmedabad Hydro Power Station.

The delegation comprised Fida Karim, president Pakistan Peoples Party, Hunza, Karimullah Baig, president, Peoples Youth Organisation, Farmanullah Baig Razi, president PYO, Gojal, Aziz Jan, Chairman Union Council Gojal and Imam Yar Baig, party activist from Shinaki.

The delegation informed the minister about the ‘large scale irregularities’ of Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Chief Executive Northern Areas and his family in the management of Sost Dry Port Trust. The minister was told that Mr Ghazanfar was hell bent upon to create misunderstanding between the newly-elected Board of Trustees of the port and the Chinese partners.

The minister instructed Assistant Commissi-oner, Hunza, to submit a detailed report to him on the situation.

The delegation also requested the minister to increase the number of seats for Hunza in Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA). The delegation informed the minister that due to deployment of force in Chipursan and Brughal valley, border areas with Afghanistan, the local community was unable to take the yaks and other cattle back from the pasture.

Answering a question by this correspondent, the minister said that after thorough study of the Sost Dry Port issue, he will forward it to the concerned ministry for further action.— A Correspondent