GWADAR: The Balochistan government has said there is no plan to hand over Gwadar port city to China and refuted all such reports doing the rounds on social media in this regard and termed them negative propaganda.

“These are all baseless rumors to misguide the people,” Gwadar deputy commissioner Hamud-ur-Rehman said about rumors doing the rounds on social media about the fencing of the Gwadar city and the port.

He said the provincial government is a guarantor of development of the city, prosperity of the people and protection of their traditional values, which will be ensured at any cost.

He said that Gwadar is being constructed as smart port city of the region and for this purpose the Balochistan government has approved a safe city project for the port city to ensure complete protection of the people and the city.

“The aim of launching the safe city project is to curb crime, stop smuggling of goods and defeat acts of terrorism,” Mr Rehman said, adding that under the project cameras will be installed and latest traffic checking system introduced.

He said those spreading such baseless rumors wanted to put hurdles in the development of the Gwadar city and create law and order situation in the area.

He said that a similar propaganda was launched when an Industrial Agriculture Park was inaugurated and the Gwadar International Airport was being built.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2024