Noon Meenar at Gwadar
By Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
Westridge, Rawalpindi
It was during the period of Prime Minister Malik Feroze Khan Noon that Pakistan purchased the Gwadar enclave from the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman for $3 million – a huge amount then. Gwadar formally became part of Pakistan on 8 December 1958 – ironically the day Martial Law was imposed - after 174 years of Omani rule.
It took PM Noon more than six months of hard negotiations – assisted by the UK – to clinch the deal, much to the dismay of PanditNehru who had his eyes on Gwadar for its far reaching strategic value.
Now that the port has been formally opened and its immense strategic importance for Pakistan established, it is time that we recognize the foresight and sagacity of the late Malik Feroze Khan Noon in purchasing Gwadar. We could pay a much deserved tribute to him by erecting a light house beaconing the way to incoming ships. It could be called “Noon Meenar” in memory of the late Malik Feroze Khan Noon.
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