QUETTA, Jan 27: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with officials of the Singapore Port Authority in Gwadar for handling the Gwadar Port operations in the first week of February, according to Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf.

While talking to newsmen here on Saturday, he said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf is expected to inaugurate the port in March.

“Gwadar port handling contract was awarded to Singapore Port Authority,” he said, adding that most of the international ports were being handled by the private sector because of their experience in the field.

He said that after the port’s formal inauguration, the provincial government would talk with the port’s management to provide maximum number of jobs to local people. "The government would protect the interests of people living around Gwadar port," he said.

Highlighting the port’s economic benefits, Jam Yousuf said that the port would generate huge trade and economic activity in the regional that would play a vital role in boosting the national economy, especially Balochistan.

Referring to the water dispute with Sindh, the chief minister said that the government would review the water accord signed between Balochistan and Sindh, adding that the provincial government would renegotiate with the Sindh government on the issue.

“We will resolve the water issue with mutual understanding and talks,” Jam Yousuf said, adding that the issue was already being considered by the inter-provincial coordination committee, which was also be holding talks on the issue. About the outstanding dues of Rs9 billion against the Sindh government, he said that it would also be discussed and resolved soon.

About the province’s financial position, he said that province’s financial position was improving because of the steps taken by the financial mangers.

“The Balochistan government’s overdraft … would be reduced to zero level as a result of the steps taken by the provincial government,” he said, adding that province had drawn any overdraft from the State Bank during the current financial year.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the provincial government had not withdrawn subsidy on agricultural tube wells but said that under a loan agreement signed with the Asian Development Bank, subsidy would not be given to new tube well connections.

About the overall law and order situation in the province, the chief minister said that he had asked the provincial police chief to take strict measures to curb street crimes, rocket firing and target killing.

He said that criminals had been identified in most cases and action would be taken against them.

He said that he had also ordered initiating action against smuggled vehicles brought from Afghanistan, adding that these vehicles were involved in most of the crimes.

He said that strict security arrangements had been made for the protection of the Muharram procession in Quetta and other areas in the province.