QUETTA, March 23: Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani has said that Gwadar will remain in the jurisdiction of the provincial government and the Gwadar Development Authority headed by the chief minister will fully run all its affairs.

Speaking to reporters at a dinner here on Monday night, the governor said: "The new port city of Gwadar would remain completely under the control of the provincial government and the GDA would be responsible for its planning and development."

He said that the provincial chief minister was the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Gwadar Development Authority. He said that certain elements were making wrong propaganda about taking over the control of Gwadar by the federal government.

"Gwadar would prove to be a new economic frontier of Pakistan. It would also play a very important role in changing the socio-economic conditions of the country as well as of Balochistan."

Mr Ghani said that after the completion of Gwadar Deep Seaport huge oil tankers and cargo ships could be easily anchored at the port. "It will compete with other ports like Muscat, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bandar Abbas merely because of its location."

He said that the business of other parts of the region would be affected when the port would be fully operational. Replying to a question about the master plan, the governor said it was not yet ready. However, he said that after the finalization, the plan would be made public. "We will not hide any thing from the people," Mr Ghani said.

The governor said that the government would take all possible steps for the welfare of the Gwadar people and added that he had already suggested that in case of dislocation the people should be given maximum compensation and batter alternate accommodations.

"With the government steps the people of Gwadar must feel secure of their rights," he said, adding the government would fully protect the legitimate rights of the people of the future's port city.

He said the government would launch development plans, including some major projects in a couple of months. The governor said that an international seminar on economic development of Balochistan would be held in Quetta soon to cover different sectors of provincial economy.

He said Pakistan Railways, the National Highway Authority and many other federal government institutions and representatives of the private sector would be participating in the seminar in which development plans and its details would be unveiled.

Responding to a question about the Zhob-DI Khan road, the governor said that tenders had been invited for the construction of culverts and bridges on the road and the work would start next year.

Mr Ghani said the government was also planning to use the Khojak Pass railway tunnel for road traffic besides the railway, and in this connection detailed plans would be prepared soon.