QUETTA: The governing body of Gwadar Devel­opment Authority (GDA), which met on Tuesday with Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo in the chair, approved Rs1 billion for the completion of GDA’s ongoing schemes and to launch business projects in the port city.

Mr Bizenjo, who is also chairman of the governing body, was briefed on the projects by the GDA’s director general.

The meeting approved development schemes for the port city and decided to resolve the financial issues of the GDA.

Official sources claimed that the governing body approved Rs500 million for the ongoing development schemes and another 500m for their bridge financing.

The officials informed the governing body of the financial issues being faced by the GDA that were delaying the ongoing development projects.

The body passed the amended annual budget of 2016-17 and 2017-18 for the GDA. The PC-1s of three development projects were also approved at the meeting.

The sources said that while discussing the financial issues of the GDA, it was decided that under the public-private partnership joint projects would be launched with the private land owners to make GDA financially self-reliant.

A plan was approved to make Sur-Bandar and Peshkan jetties operational and authorities concerned were directed to prepare plans for running them jointly with the private sector.

The chief minister said that in view of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the development of Gwadar town would remain a top priority.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2018