ISLAMABAD: Describing it as the most important component of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a parliamentary committee on Thursday stressed that success of the Gwadar port was intrinsically dependent on the provision of all basic amenities to the city.

“Therefore, it is mandatory that the ongoing projects at Gwadar pertaining to infrastructure build up, water, health, energy provision and security arrangements are completed promptly and effectively,” said the National Assembly Standing Committee on CPEC chairman Sher Ali Arbab.

During the meeting, MNA Sher Ali Arbab further directed the Interior Ministry to ensure that the rights of citizens were not violated in the name of security arrangements at Gwadar.

He also instructed Gwadar Development Authority to rehabilitate and make the already installed desalination water plants at Gwadar operational to prevent expenses incurred from going to waste.

Sher Ali Arbab also directed departments concerned to resolve the issues highlighted by the members of the committee and incorporate their “invaluable” recommendations while executing the ongoing projects at Gwadar.

The committee was briefed by Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives additional secretary, Ministry of Maritime Affairs Additional Secretary, Ministry of Communications Secretary, Ministry of Interior Secretary, National Highway Authority (NHA) General Manager, Frontier Works Organization (FWO) Senior Engineer, Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) Managing Director, Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Director General and officials from Gwadar Port Authority (GPA).

They told the members that work is in progress on the projects including the New International Airport, desalination water plant, the 300 MW power plant, Pak-China Friendship Hospital and Technical and Vocational Institute, East-Bay Expressway and construction of breakwaters, Smart Port City Master Plan and proposed Naukundi-Mashkhel-Panjgur road.

Moreover, the chairman directed the ministries, divisions and other quarters concerned to ensure the coordination amongst them and any undue delay in completion of projects at Gwadar will not be tolerated.

Members believed that lack of coordination and poor correspondence between the centre and the provincial governments delayed progress at Gwadar.

Although content with the pace of work at Gwadar with regards to provision of basic utilities and infrastructure such as gas, electricity and roads, the committee chairman further remarked, “CPEC will not take off unless every one of us exerts every possible effort to achieve its long cherished goals and the coming generation of Pakistan could witness a bright and prosperous future.”

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2020