ISLAMABAD, June 9: The government has decided to constitute a high-powered board to expedite the development of Gwadar Deep Sea Port and prepare a package for Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

This was agreed here on Monday at a meeting of Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yusuf with federal ministers for finance and communications.

The board would either be led by the provincial chief minister or the minister for communications with members from ministries of communications, finance, commerce and industries, the Board of Investment and the Central Board of Revenue.

The board would be required to finalize a special package for the Gwadar economic zone and speed up construction activities of the port.

The Balochistan chief minister assured the federal government of extending full support to accelerate the development of Gwadar as it would generate economic activity, create job opportunities and link the country with Afghanistan and Central Asia.

The finance minister discussed details of Special Economic Zone and various measures to make Gwadar a major transit and trans-shipment port. Shaukat Aziz told the chief minister that in the budget 2003-04, Rs1 billion had been earmarked for the development of Gwadar city and adjoining areas, which was in addition to the allocations for Gwadar port, airport and coastal highway.

Communications Minister Ahmed Ali said construction of Gwadar port was on schedule and coastal highway would be completed next year. He also stated that Gwadar-Khuzdar road would be built so as to provide a link up to Quetta and Chamman and to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Jam Mohammad Yusuf also discussed various initiatives being considered for the Balochistan budget, and the finance minister assured the chief minister of the federal government’s continued support in the future.

The finance minister also highlighted the need for improving implementation of development projects so as to speed up the pace of development.