December 19, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 20, 1429

QUETTA, Dec 18: Gwadar Port will become functional on Dec 21 with the arrival of a large ship carrying fertiliser.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will attend the inauguration ceremony at the port.

Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani told Dawn on Thursday that the port would become fully functional and more cargo ships would anchor at the port next month.

He said the port was important for economic activities and also had significance for national defence.

“Starting economic activities formally at Gwadar Port was my mission and it is a moment of great pleasure for me that the port is going to become functional,” Mr Raisani said.

He said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani had extended complete cooperation in this regard.

The chief minister said that the port would bring about an economic revolution in Balochistan by creating job opportunities for local people and help the province to stand on its own feet economically in a short time.

“We want to develop Gwadar Port on the pattern of Singapore port where a large number of ships is unloaded.”

In reply to a question about security in the province,

Mr Raisani said that the law and order situation in Balochistan was better than in other provinces and his government would provide complete security to entrepreneurs who wanted to invest in various sectors in Gwadar and other parts of the province.

He said that the government was striving to increase investments in the province.

The chief minister said that all issues related to Balochistan would be settled soon.