QUETTA, July 31: The first phase of the Gwadar Deep Seaport project would be completed by 2004 at a cost of $248 million, the Chairman, Gwadar Port Authority, Rear Admiral Sarfaraz Khan, informed a meeting presided over by Balochistan Governor Justice Amirul Mulk Mengal, here on Wednesday.

Corps Commander Lt-General Abdul Qadir also attended the meeting.

He said that the work on the project with the cooperation of China was speedily in progress and the pace of work on the project was three weeks ahead of schedule.

The Managing-director of Nespak who was present at the meeting also briefed the meeting about the Gwadar Master Plan. The meeting reviewed the Gwadar Master plan in detail and suggested some amendments to the Master plan.

The meeting also decided that in view of suggestions and amendments the Gwadar Master Plan would be finalized by August 15, next and after that the plan would be resubmitted before the government for its final approval.

Balochistan Governor Justice Mengal and Corps Commander Lt-General Abdul Qadir asked the authorities concerned that requirements of the next 50 years should be kept in mind while preparing Gwadar Master plan, Deep Seaport, and other development expansion and activities.