GWADAR: The Balochistan chief secretary has said that government has taken immediate steps for stopping illegal fishing at the Makran coast. The government will take legal action against those who have given permission for fishing to foreign trawlers in this coastal area.

Presiding over a meeting in the port city of Gwadar, he said that allowing illegal fishing in Arabia Sea close to Makran coast was depriving local fishermen of opportunities to earn their livelihood.

Special Assistance to the Prime Minister on CEPC Affairs Khalid Mansoor, Commissioner of Makran division Shah Irfan Gharsheen, Deputy Commissioner of Gwadar retired Major Abdul Kabir Zarkoon and senior officials of the Gwadar Port Authority and Gwadar Development Authority and other departments attended the meeting.

Chief secretary Mathar Niaz Rana briefed the meeting on the Gwadar port and CPEC projects as well as the projects initiated with the collaboration of provincial and federal governments. He said these projects would be completed soon.

He said the projects were launched for welfare of the people of the area and that the government was taking steps for development of the fisheries sector.

The meeting was informed that immediate steps had been taken to solve the problem of drinking water shortage in Gwadar.

Mr Rana said the provincial government was trying to bring improvement in other sectors by utilising all available resources.

He said the provincial government was aware of problems of the people and was making serious efforts for solving them. “We are launching various projects for resolving the issue of water shortage in Gwadar keeping in view the future requirements of the port city,” he said.

A detailed briefing was also given on the CPEC projects launched under the supervision of the Gwadar Port, Gwadar Free Zone, and Gwadar International Airport Development Authority, Gwadar.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2021