Chief Secretary reviews GDA affairs, directs steps to raise income and secure Gwadar water supply

QUETTA/GWADAR: A key meeting to review the administrative, financial and development affairs of the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan. Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Balochistan Zahid Saleem and other officials attended. GDA Director General Moinur Rehman Khan joined through video link.

The Director General briefed the meeting on ongoing and completed projects in Gwadar, the city’s development, the provision of basic facilities and the overall performance of the authority. He said the GDA was developing the city to modern and international standards under the Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan.

Under municipal services, the authority is cleaning roads, streets and beaches, maintaining drainage and sewerage lines, planting trees in green belts and grounds, protecting trees, and monitoring the water supply and distribution system. Regular action is also under way to stop illegal construction. The meeting also reviewed the GDA’s administrative structure, human resources, finances, budget, development funds for the current financial year and additional financial requirements.

Water supply from Shadi Kaur

The Director General said that, after the water level in the Sawad Dam fell, water was now being pumped daily from Shadi Kaur to supply Gwadar city. Because no electricity was available at the pumping station, the pumps were being run on generators. This had sharply raised fuel and operating costs, and additional funds were needed. The PC-I for supplying electricity to the Shadi Kaur pumping station through a separate feeder from the Pasni grid station has been submitted to the provincial government for approval. The need for early progress on it was stressed.

The briefing also covered sports grounds, parks, recreational spots, the GDA School and hospital, the road network, fishing facilities, jetties and breakwaters. Under the Old Town revival project, Mulla Fazil Chowk, which had for many years become a pool of overflowing sewage and drainage water, has been turned into a modern and attractive square. At Demi Zar, road construction, a modern drainage system and the cleaning and beautification of the beach area have made it a clean public space.

Higher income and the GDA School

The Chief Secretary directed the GDA to find new sources of income, make effective use of existing resources and draw up workable proposals for financial stability. Given the successful outsourcing of the GDA Hospital, he directed it to examine the possibility of running the GDA School through a reputable and experienced institution.

The Chief Secretary directed that comprehensive recommendations be presented at the next meeting of the GDA governing body on raising income, financial self-reliance, a suitable management model for the school, and generating resources for development projects from the non-development budget. The meeting expressed satisfaction with the GDA’s measures for sustainable urban development in Gwadar and the timely completion of ongoing projects.

Photo: courtesy DGPR Balochistan