Senate committee demands tangible actions on Gwadar development
REWRITTEN ARTICLE
Prioritizing People Over Tourism: Gwadar Master Plan under Scrutiny
In the bustling city of Islamabad, Senator Quratulain Marri recently raised eyebrows, advocating for local residents' well-being over tourism development in Gwadar.
"We need a plan that prioritizes the necessities of our people, not just fancy tourist attractions," Marri emphasized during the Senate Standing Committee meeting. The committee was assembled to review development plans, project delays, and progress under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2024-25.
The secretary of the Ministry of Communications briefed the committee on the Sukkur Karachi Motorway project and ongoing negotiations with Azerbaijan's government. Project discussions concerning the Islamic Development Bank and the Sections IV and V (Naushehro Feroz Ranipur) were also addressed, with hopes for board approval by September 2025.
Marri underscored the urgency of avoiding project delays beyond September 2025, requesting a detailed list of deliverables and monthly progress reports. Additionally, repair work was underway on the Hunza-Khunjerab Road, where 11 damaged sections were identified.
The committee obtained a report from the Monitoring Wing, discussing dam construction in Balochistan. Marri suggested summoning representatives from WAPDA and the Monitoring and Evaluation team in the next meeting to examine each dam project's causes of delay.
Delving into the Gwadar Master Plan, the committee addressed topics such as fund allocations, disbursements, and investment strategies. Notably, the Safe City Project faced a discrepancy between the Gwadar Development Authority's claim of a lack of funds and the Finance Division's confirmation of no funding demand from the Government of Balochistan. Marri encouraged formal demand procedures to be followed.
Concerns regarding small fishermen's protection rights and the steps taken by the Government of Balochistan were raised by Senator Manzoor Ahmed, to which Marri expressed agreement and directed the CPEC Chief Officer to address these issues. The committee members were also informed that port charges at Pakistani seaports, particularly Gwadar and Port Qasim, are sky-high compared to ports in the region.
Gwadar's strategic importance lies in offering China a shorter maritime route, but with only four ships docking at Gwadar Port in 2024 compared to 70 in 2009, questions were raised about why the port remains underutilized while Chabahar Port in Iran is now operational.
Although the PSDP 2024-25 fund utilization review revealed low expenditure rates in some ministries, the meeting closed on a high note, with a commitment to enhance transparency and hit the ground running to develop Gwadar as a leading global trade hub under CPEC.
The gathering was attended by senators, Saadia Abbasi, Shahadat Awan, Jam Saifullah Khan, Manzoor Ahmed, secretaries from the Planning and Communications ministries, the chairman of the National Highways Authority, and senior officials from related departments.
- Senator Quratulain Marri advocated for the Gwadar Master Plan to prioritize funds for people's necessities rather than investments in tourist attractions.
- The committee discussed the discrepancy in the Safe City Project's funding between the Gwadar Development Authority's claim and the Finance Division's confirmation, urging formal demand procedures to be followed.
- In the realm of finance and business, Marri emphasized the importance of addressing concerns regarding the protection rights of small fishermen in Gwadar and the high port charges at Pakistani seaports.
- Amidst discussions on the IRA of various development projects, the general-news perspective highlighted the underutilization of Gwadar Port, contrasting its potential strategic value with the operational Chabahar Port in Iran.
