GWADAR: Local fishermen have rejected the initial model of Gwadar’s Eastbay Expressway project.

“As promised by the federal and provincial governments and Chinese officials, the passage for boats at Gwadar Eastbay Expressway should have been 200 feet but the proposed model couldn’t meet our demands,” said the fishermen after visiting the expressway’s site.

Federal Minister for Defence Production Zubeda Jalal, Senator Khuda Babar, Chinese officials and members of the Gwadar Development Authority were present on the occasion.

Senator Babar and other officials briefed the fishermen regarding passage of boats from the expressway who rejected the model, saying they can’t gain easy access to the sea from this narrow passage.

“If the government has decided to follow the narrow-size passage then it has decided to destroy the jobs of fishermen of Gwadar,” they said and urged the government to build the passage proposed by them.

Federal Minister Zubeda Jalal, Senator Khuda Babar and officials of the Gwadar Development Authority informed the Chinese officials about fishermen community’s reservation and stressed upon to build 200 feet passage at Gwadar Eastbay Expressway.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2019