GAWADAR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that after the power deal with Iran, Gwadar will have 100MW of electricity in two weeks, while the water problem will also be solved by September.
The prime minister stated this in an interaction with local fishermen at Gwadar Business Centre during his day-long visit to the port city.
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The measures were announced in view of the problems faced by the fishermen of Gwadar in the shape of displacement and difficulty in access to the sea that was affecting the fishery sector.
The prime minister said his second visit during a month aimed at holding direct interaction with the fishermen and get their feedback on issues concerning them.
To ensure merit-based distribution of marine engines among fishermen, he directed the Planning Ministry to define a criterion with a set of parametres at the earliest.
The process of transparent bidding, he said, would be carried out within three months in line with the Pepra rules.
PM Sharif assured the fishermen to address their problems on priority and said the development of the province was “useless” without resolution of the problems of the locals.
He said it was the responsibility of the government to address the challenges faced by the locals of Balochistan.
He said the federal government would take the provincial government on board for consultations on development projects.
On supply of clean drinking water, he said the Gwadar Development Authority had given assurance to complete the laying of new pipes by September.
Regarding electricity, the prime minister said 29-kilometre-long transmission lines for supply of 100 mega watts from Iran was delayed by the previous government, whereas the Iranian side had completed the project at its end.
He said the government would bring this matter to the cabinet for approval to ensure availability of power for Balochistan.
He said it would develop a base-load of electricity and would be later supplemented by solar projects. An announcement would soon be made on the provision of solar panels to the people of Balochistan, he added.
He lauded the sacrifices of the local people by braving the challenges during the construction of Gwadar Port, which was a harbinger for their prosperity.
PM Sharif said the establishment of Gwadar University had been included in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and said maximum funds would be provided for the education of students at par with rest of the country.
