GWADAR: Balochistan Minister for Environment and Forest, Obaidullah Babat said on Wednesday that installation of an LNG terminal would not threaten the ecology of Gwadar.

Speaking at a public hearing arranged by the Balochistan Environ­mental Protection Agency (EPA) over installation of the proposed terminal in Gwadar, he said that energy problem of the country would be resolved with the installation of the terminal.

Secretary Environment Dr Shoaib Ahmed Gola, Chairman District Council Babu Gulab and district president of BNP-Mengal Khuda-i-Dad also took part in the deliberations.

Mr Babat and the secretary environment informed the participants of the hearing that the terminal would be set up in Sur-Bandan area of Gwadar district which would be hooked up with ships loaded with LNG.

“The proposed terminal would not be detrimental to the ecology of Gwadar,” Dr Shoaib said.

The proposed LNG terminal, according to the minister, would help create ample job opportunities for the people of the coastal town.

‘‘Every house would get a gas connection,” he said, adding that commercial connections would also be available to Gwadar after completion of the project.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2016