GWADAR: Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri has said the resources of Gwadar belong to the people of this coastal city and nobody can deprive them of their rights.

Nawab Zehri made the remarks in a speech at a function on Tuesday to mark the reopening of a hospital run by the Gwadar Development Authority.

The hospital had been lying idle for the past eight years. The army chief had asked the authorities concerned to make it operational during his visit to Gwadar last month.

“The government will protect the rights of people of Gwadar and strictly abide by its commitments,” said the chief minister.

Commander Southern Command, Lt Gen Amir Riaz, Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattah, GOC Maj Gen Kizar Hayath, MPA Mir Hammal Kalmati and Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Chairman Dostain Jamaldini were present on the occasion.

“The hospital had been lying idle for the last eight years, but was made operational in a record period of eight days. We are serving the province and its people keeping aside our political and personal interests,” Nawab Zehri said.

He assured the people that the Gwadar college would soon be made functional.

He said the other issues of this city would be addressed jointly by the civil and military leadership, asking the masses to cooperate with the army.

Lt Gen Riaz said the functioning of GDA hospital was a vital progress in the development of this city.

“It will be expanded in the coming days. The army will continue to play its role in the development of Gwadar and Balochistan,” he added.

He said that the hospital was a gift for the people of Gwadar on behalf of China and “I am thankful to Chinese friends”.

The chief minister was briefed on the hospital where more than 450 patients would be treated daily.

Doctors and medical staff from the provincial health department and the army will provide the treatment facilities.

The hospital, which currently consists of 50 beds, will be expanded to 350 beds in three phases.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2016