ISLAMABAD: The special committee of Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
has expressed its resentment over Gawader Port, which has been still
nonfunctional inspite of completion and instructed government to take
immediate measures to get started the port functions.
The
meeting of the committee was held at Parliament House here on Tuesday.
Chairperson of the special committee Yasmin Rehman presided over the
meeting .The committee was told that now Gawader port is handling only
official cargo and government has to give the subsidy of Rs 1800 per
ton on it.
Chairperson asked the high ups of Ministry of Ports
and Shipping to explain the reason that why the port has not started
full functioning inspite of its completion. On which the officials of
ministry told the committee that the construction of Gawader Port was
completed with the cooperation of China. But National Highway Authority
(NHA) had to make 350 km long road to link the port with the other
parts of the country but the road was not made by NHA.
They
said that there is not any issue of law and order at Gawader but due to
non working of the port all the business activity in the area has been
stopped . A five star hotel made by private sector has also been shut
down due to non availability of business. The committee was informed
that European Union has implemented ban on fish import from Pakistan.
If EU lifts this ban , the country can get the foreign reserves of 23
billion dollars.
On the occasion, audit authorities apprised
the committee that Ministry of Port and Shipping has installed a plant
at Gawader to transform salt water into drinkable water with the cost
of Rs 100 million which is not working yet. Ministry’s officials said
that they have not fuel to run the plant.
On which the
Chairperson Yasmin Rehman showed her anger by saying that after using
million of rupees, non availability of fuel is a lame excuse. Arranging
the fuel is the responsibility of the ministry.
The management
of Port Qasim Karachi told the committee that they expelled out 25
tenants on not paying the rent. Now the matter is in the litigation .
The committee ordered the concerned officers that the case may be
perused to collect the rent. Online
