The Balochistan government has provided over 200 acres of land for the development of modern “Fishermen Colony” for Gwadar fishermen at the cost of Rs2,439.6 million, Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday.

The land is located at Mouza Ankada South, near the junction of Jiwani and Awaran Avenue, and the Sports Complex Gwadar.The “Fishermen Colony” is a low-cost housing scheme.

A total of 2,970 residential plots, each measuring 120 square yards, will be allocated to fishermen.

A key meeting regarding the Fishermen Colony project in Gwadar was held under the chairmanship of Director General Gwadar Development Authority (GDA), Moin-ur-Rehman Khan.

The meeting was attended by Chief Engineer GDA Haji Sid Muhammad, Director Town Planning Shahid Ali, and Deputy Director Town Planning Abdul Razzaq.

During the meeting, the Director Town Planning provided a detailed briefing, stating that the Fishermen Colony project was announced approximately three years ago by the Prime Minister of Pakistan during his visit to Gwadar, which aims at the welfare of local fishermen. Subsequently, GDA completed initial groundwork.

It was further shared that a request has been submitted to the federal government for the required funding, and the project is awaiting the release of these funds.

Once the funds are made available, development work will formally commence. In the next phase, the process of plot allotment to fishermen will also begin.

The Government of Balochistan will provide significant subsidies on land prices and development costs to ensure affordable and quality housing for fishermen.

The project will include modern urban facilities such as clean drinking water supply, sewerage system, roads, electricity, schools, mosques, hospitals, and parks.

The Planning and Development (P&D) Department Balochistan has already approved the PC-II of the project, under which consultancy services, master planning, design, and other technical aspects will be completed.

To ensure transparency, a digital database of allottees will also be established.

On this occasion, DG GDA Moin-ur-Rehman Khan directed that the project should be advanced on a priority basis so that the real stakeholders of Gwadar — the fishermen — can be provided with modern and dignified housing facilities at the earliest.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China