QUETTA, March 29: Balochistan Governor Abdul Qadir has said completion of Gwadar deep-water port would not only give fillip to economic development of the country, but also create employment opportunities for the local population.

Talking to various delegations, including Nazims and notables in Gwadar on Saturday, the governor said the project would bring prosperity to the area and improve quality of life of the people.

He described as “baseless” the impression that the project would affect the rights of the local population.

He said the rights of Gwadar people would be given complete protection and nobody would be allowed to usurp them. “Technical training would be provided to the youth in order to accommodate them in various technical sections,” he added.

A master plan was being prepared for comprehensive development of Gwadar, keeping in view its future requirements, he said.

Later, the governor visited the project where he was informed that work on it was in progress at rapid speed.

The first phase of the project was expected to be completed by March, 2005, he was told.

Talking to a delegation of Nazims, the governor said the district government system would continue functioning in the future.

He laid emphasis on the need that Nazims, government officials, provincial ministers and MPAs jointly work within their legitimate jurisdiction in order to make the system a success.

He told a delegation from Ormara that every possible step would be taken to secure rights of Balochistan fishermen and improve their lot. Effective measures would also be adopted to check illegal fishing, he assured the delegation. —APP