Ahsan Iqbal ordered immediate dredging of Gwadar Port

Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiative (PD&SI) Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday directed relevant authorities to immediately start dredging Gwadar Port and provide engines to local fishermen.

The Minister made the remarks when chairing an “important emergency meeting” in Islamabad regarding Gwadar projects. “The services of the Pakistan Navy should be acquired for the dredging of Gwadar Port to make it viable for the transportation of the big ship,” Mr. Iqbal said, adding that the government was making all-out efforts to restore the port.

Due to negligence, the depth of Gwadar Port has decreased to 11 meters which should be 18 meters deep for the anchoring of big ships.

The Minister also directed the relevant authorities to immediately restore Pasni Port for fishing, which is the source of earnings for hundreds of local fishermen.

Ahsan Iqbal also issued instructions for the provision of engines for the boats of fishermen of Gwadar and said “the need of fishermen should be kept in mind while supplying the engines”.

The government had already announced providing 2000 motorboat engines to the poor fishermen of Gwadar.