GWADAR: Siraj Mohammad Khan, chairman of the National Assembly standing committee on commerce, has said that Gwadar will emerge as the economic hub of the country and the region after execution of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

Talking to reporters after presiding over a meeting of the committee here on Tuesday, he said that Gwadar would soon attract attention of Pakistan and other countries of the region because of its unique geographical location.

Members of the committee have arrived in the port city on a two- day visit.

Mr Khan said that ample job and economic opportunities were being created in the city, which would open new vistas of development and prosperity in the country.

The committee chairman called for joint efforts to ensure further stability in the area to continue the process of development.

Talking about problems being faced by the local people, he said that they must benefit from development of Gwadar and their rights and interests should be safeguar­ded. He urged the authorities concerned to alley apprehensions of the local people, including fishermen, about their future and solve problems being faced by the fishermen.

Shazia Marri of the PPP, a member of the committee, said that the government was making tall claims about Gwadar’s development but situation on the ground was quite different as people of the city were deprived of basic amenities.

“The biggest problem of Gwadar is a severe shortage of drinking water,” she said, adding that the city had a poor road infrastructure.

She said that the government had not taken steps to improve the living slandered of the local people. She said that the largest part of the local population comprised fishermen who felt insecurity about their profession.

Ms Marri said that she would take up the issues of Gwadar in the National Assembly.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2017