QUETTA, Oct 19: The provincial government has decided to construct two more jetties in Makran in an attempt to reduce the workload on the Gwadar Fish Harbour.

The two jetties would be built in Pishokan and Sur Bandar areas of Gwadar district.

It was decided at a meeting of the governing body of the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) which was presided over by Chief Minister Jam Mir Yousuf.

The meeting reviewed the overall situation and development activities in Gwadar and decided to speed up work on development projects in Gwadar.

The meeting decided that the provincial government would take steps for acquiring land for establishing the export processing zone (EPZ) and the Gwadar Development Authority.

The meeting was informed that the government has acquired private land for the construction of 350-bed hospital in Gwadar for which the Federal Government had provided Rs96 million and its blueprints were ready.

Considering the land allotment and settlement issue, it was decided that for checking irregularities, the entire revenue record and settlement system would be computerized. There would be laws governing the transfer of land in future and rules would be framed for construction in Gwadar curtailing the haphazard development of the proposed mega city.

The GDA governing body decided to establish a huge sports complex. GDA Director-General Mir Ahmed Bakhsh Lehri informed the members that 75 local youth were sent to Karachi and Islamabad for getting training in different trades and skills. He said that 75 more young people would be sent to Karachi and Islamabad for training.

The meeting was informed that Rs500 million from the Federal Government and Rs100 million from the Balochistan Government had been transferred to the GDA for accelerating the pace of development activities.

Mr Yousuf issued directives to all officials concerned to safeguard the interests of the local people in Gwadar Master Plan and all development projects.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Federal Minister Zubaida Jalal, provincial ministers Syed Ehsan Shah, Syed Sher Jan, Mir Asim Kurd, Chief Secretary Mohammad Naeem and other officials concerned.