ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on maritime affairs noted with dismay on Friday that funds for operation and maintenance of the Pakistan China Technical and Vocational Institute in Gawdar had not been released.

The meeting, chaired by Senator Rubina Khalid, discussed the progress on efforts for acquiring the remaining land for development of Gwadar port in conformity with the master plan.

But when the representative of Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) was informed that the Balochistan government had banned land acquisition in the town, he requested the committee to persuade the province to lift the ban.

About the technical institute, the committee was told a revised PC-1 had been submitted to the ministry of planning for carrying out the remaining work on the building.

Naseer Khan, the GPA chairman, said an annual budget of Rs300 million had been sought from the federal government for running the Pakistan China Technical and Vocational Institute, but approval was awaited.

The committee directed the ministry of maritime affairs to approach the planning division again to secure funds for operation of the technical institute. “Don’t hesitate to approach even the prime minister for money,” a member advised the GPA chief.

The committee was informed that a summary was submitted to the prime minister in January 2019 for the acquisition of land for Gwadar port. Former prime minister Imran Khan directed the maritime affairs ministry to make a presentation, The ministry sought appointment from the PM Office for a presentation, but it could not take place over the last three years.

Senator Kauda Babar was of the view that since Gwadar Port Authority was not utilising the already acquired land, there was no need for more land.

Sena­tors Nuzhat Sadiq, Abida Mohammad Azeem, Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Kauda Babar, Danesh Kumar, Moula Bakhsh Chandio,

Dost Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Akram and Saifullah Abro attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2022