ISLAMABAD, July 15: Pakistan has approached Iran to supply electricity and gas to the Gwadar seaport city, it is learnt. Official sources told Dawn here on Friday that the government had decided to urgently overcome electricity and gas shortage in Gwadar, was discussing the issue with the government of Iran.

Iran has tentatively agreed to meet the energy requirements of Balochistan province. However, the sources said, the Iranian government was being asked to help meet necessary electricity and gas requirements of District Gwadar, which included Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara and Jiwani.

The Gwadar port authorities, the sources said, had asked the federal government to manage gas and electricity requirements especially for the proposed hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and other development projects in the area.

The sources said while the construction of coastal highway had boosted the life of the people of Gwadar, infrastructure facilities to the investors were vital for the development of the new port city in Balochistan.

Since the development of next phase of Gwadar port has been offered to the private sector/ international investors on Build Operate and Ownership (BOO) and Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis, the sources said, energy requirements of the area needed to be appropriately met.

The government was also requested by the port authorities to help improve the standard of living of the people of the area by providing basic necessities.

The health facility lacks equipment to deal with serious cases of illness to the Gwadar population which is around 80,000, majority of whom are fishermen.

The literacy rate in the area is extremely low being less than 20 per cent for male and less than 7 per cent for female. One of the long term programmes for Balochistan development is the development of Gwadar port with the technical and financial assistance of Chinese government.

Under the programme, the sources said, many industries have been envisaged to be established in the province in general and around Gwadar in particular for which skilled manpower would be needed for the operation of the port and the allied industries.

In this behalf, the sources said, that the ministry of education had decided to establish Gwadar Institute of Technology in line with the government policy to effectively develop Gwadar port under the 9th five-year plan.

The government would provide Rs200 million to set up the new institute that aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship by establishing strong linkages between the institute and the industries of Gwadar port.

Gwadar Institute of Technology would be established under the supervision of Director General, Gwadar Development Authority who would be responsible for day to day activities.