QUETTA, May 20: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf has taken serious notice of illegal fishing and use of prohibited nets and directed arrest of people involved in it and confiscation of their boats.

He said no one would be allowed to loot Balochistan’s sea resources and gave an assurance that resources and interests of local fishermen would be protected.

The chief minister was presiding over a meeting in Hub on Friday which reviewed matters pertaining to the Gwadar Development Authority, Balochistan Coastal Development Authority, Gwadar industrial zone and the Singhar housing scheme.

He sanctioned Rs10 million to the fisheries department for purchasing speedboats and imposed section 144 in coastal areas to stop illegal fishing.

Briefing the meeting, Gwadar Development Authority managing director Ahmad Bakhsh Lehri said Rs43 billion projects were being carried out under the Gwadar master plan.

He said Rs600 million had been allocated for a sports complex, Rs550 million for a 350-bed hospital and Rs100 million for a central park. He said local people would be provided 4,000 plots on minimum prices.