HUNZA-NAGAR, Nov 19: The newly-elected cabinet of Silk Route Dry Port Trust was administered the oath of office by assistant commissioner Hunza Socrat Aman Rana on Wednesday.

They included Chairman Afsar Jan, Senior Vice-President Hoor Shah and Vice-President Mohammad Raza.

The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Sost dry port in Gojal-Hunza and attended by officials of local administration, Sost customs, managing director Pakistan-China Sost Port Company, representatives of N.As Import Export Association, N.As Customs Clearing Agents Association, women organisations and notables from all over the valley.

Addressing the ceremony, Afsar Jan reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring merit in the port affairs and streamlining the shares of the local community in the joint venture company. He said the new cabinet would utilise its capabilities with the support of the local community to further promote the friendship between Pakistan and China.

Hoor Shah thanked the government of Pakistan for playing an impartial role to ensure the rights of the trustees. He also praised the role of AC Hunza in assisting the deserving trustees during their struggle despite political pressure and threats. He promised to provide all facilities to the clearing agents, importers and exporters.

Laila Rehman, president women organisation, thanked the local administration and other organisations for their support during their struggle to take over the port from the former cabinet of Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan. “The poor women had invested their savings in the port in order to ensure a prosperous future for their coming generations but Mir Ghazafar turned it into a family property.”

She expressed the commitment of the local women to work side by side with the new cabinet in order to make the port a model enterprise.

The superintendent of customs promised full support to the new cabinet in order to provide facilities to the traders. He congratulated the women of Sost for showing courage and defending their rights.

The representatives of Northern Areas Import Export Association and Northern Areas Clearing Agents Association expressed the hope that the new cabinet would resolve their problems.

The trustees of the dry port won a long-drawn battle against the former management of Mr Ghazanfar during a recently-held election of the board of directors. Mr Ghazanfar had been occupying the port without holding election according to the port by-laws. He also deprived the 124 shareholders and 147 land owners of their rights.