ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: The Ministry of Defence has clarified some points made in a report which appeared in Dawn’s Wednesday issue under the headline ‘Singapore allowed to quit port contract’.

A press release issued on Wednesday said the report pertaining to Gwadar Port had falsely attributed the failure of PSA agreement to Pakistan Navy’s land holdings at Shamba Ismael.

Contrary to the assertions, it said, Pakistan Navy being the key stakeholder in the nation’s maritime affairs had always played an active role in promoting development of a port at Gwadar. The fact is that PN had been allotted 584 acres at Shamba Ismael by the government in 1980 for operational purposes.

“However, in the larger national interest, PN has voluntarily offered the land for alternative use. To address the critical operational compulsions vis-à-vis maritime security, PN has requested the government for suitable land at alternative location for which the process is under way,” the press release said.