The military is learnt to have sought more than 11,000 acres land at Gwadar port to build 'Combined Defence Complex (CDC). The summary, moved by the General Headquarters (GHQ), gave a break-up to highlight the objectives and for which they said 'Complex' would require the land at Gwadar port.
It also gave estimated price for the land required for the proposed 'Complex'. However, the federal government would determine the rate for the land after clearance of the proposal from concerned quarters.
The proposal is currently under government consideration and it may decide its fate after going through the comments of the concerned federal and provincial departments. More importantly, the land can be allotted to any department, including military, and in this case Balochistan government's approval would be required before giving it a practical shape.
Sources said that the government had sent the GHQ proposal to different ministries/divisions to get their views since the government wants to take the issue in the broader perspective.
Since conceiving the idea of making Gwadar port a facility for big ships and using it a means to make Pakistan a corridor for different countries for trade, the government is taking different steps to make it a reality. One issue, which is being taken seriously at the highest level, is to ensure foolproof security to the entire project.
The proposed Complex appears a step in the same direction for presence of the Defence forces at this important strategic place. The law and order situation in Balochistan has been a question mark for the federal government. The situation kept on deteriorating in the province, which is rich in natural resources such as oil and gas and other precious minerals. The federal government had credible information that some foreign hand is active in the province to destabilise Pakistan. This has left with no other option but to take some extra ordinary measures to make sure that anti-Pakistan elements cannot simply act at their will to question the authority of the state.
Despite stiff resistance the government had pushed forward its plan to build up two garrisons in Balochistan. The presence of Defence forces gave a clear and loud message to those forces which were behind a nefarious plan of destabilising Pakistan by acting in Balochistan. Now, setting up of 'Combined Defence Complex at Gwadar will be another major move toward, making this project safe and secure for international trade.
This news published by Business Recorder |
