Re: Gwadar Port: redeeming a pledge of socio-economic uplift
TRD, no one is denying that Balochistan has been ignored but do you think the solution is to stop any sort of development in the province??????
You keep on talking about jobs being advertised in Punjab and Karachi but do you even know how BIG this project is?????
Do you really think Balochs have enough engineers, architects, labour force etc to BUILD everything on their own??????
What about local pakistani investors who want to invest in Balochistan, they can invest all they want but they can't hire any non-balochs????
All governments have made blunders and they will probably keep on doing this but at least the current government is doing it's best, it's another thing that some people just don't wanna admit that.
Re: Gwadar Port: redeeming a pledge of socio-economic uplift
Rs35bn road network for Gwadar: PM
ISLAMABAD, March 20: The government is building a network of roads at a cost of Rs35 billion to provide better links with Gwadar port which already has access up to Chamman through a combination of Coastal Highway (N-10) and ECO Highway (N-25).
This was stated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz while presiding over a meeting at the Prime Minister‘s House on Monday to review the status of roads connectivity to Gwadar. He said that the completion of road networks and other mega projects will usher a new era of development and prosperity in Balochistan and the government is taking steps to complete the projects on fast track basis.
Mr Aziz directed the ministry of communications and the National Highway Authority to upgrade the existing road from Gwadar-Hoshab-Panjgur-Nag-Basima and Sorab. The prime minister also directed them to immediately undertake construction of road up to Panjgur and beyond subsequently so that two routes are available between Gwadar and the Central Asian Republics.
NHA Chairman Maj Gen Farrukh Javed made a presentation about the status of various projects.
He said the NHA was working on eight projects to provide network of accesses to Gwadar and from Gwadar to various local and foreign locations. Lyari-Gwadar road has been completed and Gwadar- Jiwani-Gabad road will be completed in 2009 which will provide access to Iran.
He said 57 per cent work on Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab project has been completed, the remaining work will be completed by March 2007. Basima-Khuzdar road will be completed by 2009 while 60 per cent work on Khori-Wangu hill project has been completed and the remaining portion of the road from Qubo-Saeed Khan to Wangu hills has been awarded to FWO which will be completed in 36 months.
Gen Farrukh informed the prime minister that Kalat- Quetta Chamman road has already been awarded to four contractors under the financial package of the ADB and will be completed in three years.
I am pretty sure it’s much more than just promises, we have seen the beautiful Makran Coastal highway already and motorway will soon start as well. I don’t think all these roads are being constructed for the benefit of people from other provinces:)
Re: Gwadar Port: redeeming a pledge of socio-economic uplift
All governments have made blunders and they will probably keep on doing this but at least the current government is doing it's best, it's another thing that some people just don't wanna admit that.
I agree with you that not all jobs can be filled by Balochis. However even labourer jobs are filled by non-Balochis.
'Investors' are not charities, they come and discriminate against the locals, take from Balochistan and leave without doing anything for the people.
For the locals, not much of an 'investment'.
And to say this govt is doing its best is ignoring the fact that they are killing Balochi's every week, and continue to ignore Baloch grievances, despite their grand words which some gullible people tend to believe.
Unlike many here I have spent time in Balochistan and have spent many hours discussing this with many Balochis, so know better than to just believe govt PR.
Re: Gwadar Port: redeeming a pledge of socio-economic uplift
Naive? When people go around blowing up pipelines and sabotaging state infrastructre, and start challenging the writ of the govt, then they are expecting trouble. Balochi Sardars arent fighting for their rights, they are fighting to promote their own shallow aims and to empower themselves and their cofers through threats and violence. If your trying to elicit some sympathy for those scum, your barking up the wrong tree..
Re: Gwadar Port: redeeming a pledge of socio-economic uplift
Bengalis are one thing, blood sucking, racist sardars are quite another...
Its a sad state of events, but the sardars have brought this on themselves.
As for the rest, honestly, I dont know why you waste your time. Everyone agrees that wrong has been done in Balochistan, by continuously harping on the same point, your only wasting your own time.
But in all honesty, I believe that what the Sardars are doing now deserves the full wrath of the govt to put them down. If the govt was NOT initiating certain projects in the province, then perhaps I would have some sympathy, but the Balochi sardars are nothing more then a bunch of cut throat oppurtunistic thieves who deserve nothing...
The fact that the govt IS devloping projects in the province shows that atleast things are changing despite the scum of the earth who inhabit that province and suck it dry.
Whether or not these projects eventually help the people of the province is something that only time will tell... If the day comes that the Balochis are still backwards and deprived of their rights, then I will raise their banner with you, until then sit back and watch. Your self righteous ranting will not find many buyers.
Re: Gwadar Port: redeeming a pledge of socio-economic uplift
Typical nonsense by people who have never even been to Balochistan.
When the wrongs that have been done continue decade after decade, govt after govt, of course people will keep 'harping on' about it! For you to just dismiss it like that shows how little you actually care about it.
You are very gullible if you think any projects to benefit Balochis are being initiated. You obviously don't want to believe certain facts, so just go to Balochistan and talk to the people there, and you will see how different the situation is on the ground than from your PC, then you will realize how sadly mistaken your view is.
Re: Gwadar Port: redeeming a pledge of socio-economic uplift
Hahah. Funny you bring Bengali struggle in the middle of Gawadar. You know their very first act was to murder the damn leader. Not just him, but the "Whole family including women and children". Sh. Mujib survived in Pakistan nay thrived in Pakistan. He became the big leader and almost PM of the whole country. Instead of opting to live under the law, poor guy started "sonar Bangla" slogans.
Guess what, sonar Bangla, and its golden Bengalis promptly sent him to Jannat. This was a testament not in words but via actions that Bengalis hated this guy more than anyone in Pakistan could.
If you want the same "treatment" for Baloch Sirdars then go ahead "make my day".
p.s. So! what's the latest from your "long hours" spent "talking about Baloch development"? Still struggling with the commie ideas of native vs. non-native/
Re: Gwadar Port: redeeming a pledge of socio-economic uplift
Advantages from Gwadar Port
During the last five years, the government initiated a number of mega development projects in Balochistan. The Gwadar deep seaport project is the foremost mega project, which would help the country to take a quantum leap in terms of economic progress. The port of Gwadar is being constructed at a cost of $ 1.5 billion with financial and technical assistance of China. The infrastructure facilities consisting of road-link, connecting Gwadar to the national highway, will serve as a gateway for trade from land-locked countries of Central Asia. It will facilitate the development of shipyards and export of mineral resources of Balochistan. The development of industrial zones in the port area will create opportunities for employment and private investment in the Province of Balochistan. Pakistan intends to build an export processing zone and a free trade area to maximise the potential of Gwadar port. A new railway track from Gwadar connecting with existing rail network at Quetta-Kohi Taftan section will be built to enhance trade activities at Gwadar Port. Besides the road network, there are plans to set up an international airport equipped with all modern aviation facilities. It will serve as the mother-port at the junction of traditional trade routes opposite Strait of Hormuz which lies so close to this base and at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Gwadar port is very important for China from both economic and security point of view. Since Gwadar will be linked with China’s western province of Xingjian with Pakistan, therefore it is expected to become a gateway port for Central Asia and Xingjian. China wants to convert its western region into a hub of economic and commercial activities.
Beijing and Islamabad have identified $12 billion projects, including Islamabad International Airport, oil refinery at Gwadar, Bunji hydropower project and Neelam-Jhelum hydropower project for Chinese investment. Gwadar’s geo-strategic location also interests the United States, who considers Chinese presence in Gwadar a threat to its oil trade from Gulf to the Far East and Europe. Iran is also one of the main players in the region and considers Gwadar as a threat to its main route to the sea from Central Asia. Iran is currently building a port at Chabahar as a response to Gwadar port. Iran, with assistance from India, plans to channel and monopolise trade from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan destined for the East and the Gulf via Chabahar. India’s geo-strategic interest in the region may be to prevent the Chinese from building influence in the Persian Gulf region and to assume the role of regional power. India has the means, resources and potential to give the Baloch rebels a hand. Therefore, the unrest in Balochistan becomes the Achilles heel in the war against terror and a constant worry over Pakistan’s stability. India is surely helping insurgents in Balochistan and the instable Balochistan would be in India’s interests, as it would improve India’s security perception. What is fun of having so big consulates in Kandahar in Afghanistan and Zahidan in Iran equal to embassy in Tehran? Pakistan enjoys a historical, cultural, political and religious links with UAE, which have been further fomented through bilateral and regional cooperation between the two countries. President HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan had a deep interest in developing relations with Pakistan and had a special feeling of warmth towards the people and leaders of Pakistan. Pakistan views relations with UAE as top priority among ties with all Asian countries. The BBC report about a statement attributed to the Balochistan Minister for Tourism, Culture and Fish harbour Syed Sher Jan Baloch as saying that “UAE is scared because the development of Gwadar will take away major share of international investment besides giving Pakistan the status of a major regional economic power”, is not taken in the true perspective. UAE has never spelled out even an iota of apprehensions of an economic threat from Gwadar port. In fact some of the anti-Pakistan element working in the UAE have dissipated this disinformation to create a wedge between two brotherly countries. Pakistan is very optimistic about the prospects and impacts of Gwadar. These two ports operating at Gwadar and UAE will complement each other and the positive outcome would be to find mutual advantages accrued from them. Pakistan intends to take on other Gulf ports, especially Oman’s Salalah and UAE’s Jebel Ali and offer Central Asian states their most efficient warm-water access to both the west and the east. Government of Pakistan has reportedly agreed to lease out land to UAE at Gwadar for the establishment of shipping companies and other related trade activities. UAE companies have shown a strong interest in the development of Gwadar port, with the promise of attracting more investment for the development of the whole area. The Saudi Investment Fund has promised to invest $100 million in the Pasni-Ormara section of the Mekran coastal highway, which is needed to connect Gwadar with other key regions of the country. Talks are also at an advanced stage with Oman and the UAE for co-financing $100m each in this project. UAE and Saudi funds are also expected to finance some water storage schemes, as well as some social uplift projects in Balochistan. Oman has already signed a deal for small development schemes in Gwadar. UAE investments in the automotive and other manufacturing fields have fuelled economic activity in Pakistan, while the presence of Pakistani workers in the UAE have given impetus to economic activity in the UAE.