GWADAR: Central leader of the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) and MPA Mir Hamal Kalmati has opposed the proposed establishment of a new institution named National Coastal Development Authority (NCDA) for Gwadar and termed the move interference in the provincial affairs.

Speaking at a press conference along with representatives of other political parties here on Thursday, he said that by establishing NCDA, the federal government was trying to take control of Gwadar, which was not acceptable to the people of Gwadar and their representatives.

He said that a similar institution with the name of the Balochistan Coastal Development Authority (BCDA) already existed in the province and there was no need to establish another institution as it would be interference in the affairs of Balochistan.

He asked the provincial government to strongly oppose the proposed move and provide required funds to the BCDA for the development of Gwadar and other coastal areas of Makran.

Referring to the proposed Gwadar Master Plan, Mr Kalmati said that authorities concerned were trying to approve the plan without taking the MNA, MPAs of the area and representatives of other political parties into confidence.

“Public representatives from Gwadar have been completely ignored in the preparation of the Gwadar Master Plan,” the BNP-M leader said, adding that approval of the plan should be postponed at least for a month.

The Gwadar Master Plan will be presented at a meeting on Aug 23. The meeting will be chaired by Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani. MNA from Gwadar Muhammad Aslam Bhootani and MPA Hamal Kalmati will attend the meeting.

Mr Bhootani has also taken up the Gwadar Master Plan issue in the National Assembly and threatened to resist any move about approval of the plan without consultation of the public representatives of Gwadar.

Mr Kalmati warned that if the proposed Gwadar Master Plan was presented in the meeting for approval without consulting the MNA and MPA of the area, the all-party alliance would stage a strong protest against the move.

He said the Gwadar Port was the biggest asset of Baloch people and representatives of the people would not compromise on the rights of the people.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2019