Islamabad, In a significant meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs held at Parliament House on Wednesday, Senator Mrs. Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of the Committee, presided over critical discussions on various maritime projects. The meeting focused on the acquisition of land for the Gwadar railway project, the Gwadar Shipyard Project, and several other key maritime initiatives.
According to Senate of Pakistan, The primary issue addressed was the pending acquisition of approximately 340 acres of land necessary for the railway track from Gwadar Port to the Railway Container Yard, a project approved by ECNEC in 2007. The committee was informed by railway officials that negotiations were ongoing with the District Administration, Gwadar Development Authority, and Gwadar Port Authority. Senator Khalid emphasized the importance of this railway track as the backbone of the Gwadar project and urged for its completion. A resolution was passed for the formation of a committee, including relevant stakeholders, to resolve the land acquisition issue within 15 days.
Further discussions revolved around the Gwadar Shipyard Project. Dr. Iram Anjum Khan, Secretary of Maritime Affairs, briefed the committee about the Ministry of Defence Production’s (MoDP) decision to relocate the shipyard site from Kappar to Sur Bandar due to its more favorable location. Senator Khalid questioned the initial oversight in site selection, referring to the incident as a sign of departmental incompetence. The Committee has referred this matter to the Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production for further investigation.
The meeting also covered the progress of the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority, including projects like the Modification of Fish Auction Hall, Establishment of Business Park, and Establishment of Cold Storage and Freezing tunnels. The Committee was informed that the revised proposals for these projects were awaiting approval from the CDWP. Senator Khalid recommended exploring private sector partnerships for timely completion of these projects.
Senator Khalid also brought up the subject of Inland Waterways Transport and amendments to the Pakistan Merchant Marine Shipping Policy and Pakistan Merchant Shipping Ordinance. While some stakeholders have not supported the idea of Inland Waterways Transport, Senator Khalid highlighted the urgent need for managing these waterways to prevent drowning incidents. The Committee decided to engage more stakeholders in this discussion. It was also revealed that the proposed amendments to the shipping policy and ordinance have been adopted, and a detailed report is pending.
The Senate Committee also reviewed the performance and tenders issued by Karachi Port Trust over the past decade. Officials confirmed that out of the total tenders issued, most projects have been completed, while some could not begin due to the lack of suitable bidders.
The meeting was attended by Senators Abida Muhammad Azeem, Danesh Kumar, Moula Bux Chandio, Dost Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Akram, Secretary Maritime Affairs Dr. Iram Anjum Khan, and other senior officials from relevant departments.