News
Friday, May 20, 2011
Balochistan govt to provide security at Gwadar airport site
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: In order to ensure smooth construction work on the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), Balochistan government is presently engaged in ensuring security at the site of the project.
Under the changed policy, instead of the federal government, the provincial government has been asked to provide adequate security at the construction site, whose initial work could not be started during the last three years because of security threats, Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Productions was informed on Thursday. The committee’s meeting, presided over by Senator Lt General (r) Javed Ashraf Qazi, was briefed about the progress on NGIA and a new airport in Peshawar besides expansion in the existing ones by the representatives of Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Members of the committee also proposed that the federal government should not use law enforcement forces under its command as it could have serious repercussions in the case of Balochistan. They also supported the view of the MoD and CAA that Balochistan was mainly being asked to ensure security at the site of the new airport.
The committee was told that apart from the request for deployment of FC at the site, the local administration had also been asked to set up police pickets to provide security at the place.
Apart from law and order concern, it was informed that the progress on the project was also slow due to some land disputes with the locals and at times contractors’ equipments and offices was also damaged by certain elements.
The committee was apprised that the land, acquired initially for the project, was again claimed by the previous landowners and they were paid again but they demanded more for it.
So far 70 percent of the total land acquired for the project is in the possession of authorities, whereas the rest is still being held by the landowners, who have been already paid the amount. Regarding the Peshawar Airport, the committee was told that the construction of new terminal building and allied facilities was expected to cost Rs 9 billion.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk