INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
ISLAMABAD: The sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs was told on Friday that the China Overseas Port Holding
Company (COPHC) had given a grant of US$1.2 billion to carry out the development work in the area of Gwadar Port.&The China desires to see
Pakistan as a prosperous state,& Chairman COPHC Zang Baozhong said while briefing the sub-committee about the issues faced by the company
for the area development.The panel, which met here with Senator Kauda Babar in chair, called for expediting the work in Gwadar Port and
facilitating the local and foreign investors while reviewing various issues pertaining to the port and its investors.The committee chairman
appreciated the interest of Chinese investors in the development of Pakistan and promised all-out support to them for executing the
development projects in the area, assuring the company that their issues would be resolved on priority.Taking up the issue of Internet
connectivity with the PTCL, the Committee took exception over its demand and summoned the Secretary Ministry of Information Technology in
the next meeting along with the telecommunications& company senior officers to discuss the issue at length.The Ministry of Maritime Affairs
assured the Committee that the issue was being persued vigorously.Discussing the establishment of the Transit Trade Directorate at Gwadar
Port, the committee was informed that the matter was under discussion and the meetings with the Ministry of Commerce and the Federal Board
of Revenue (FBR) were being held.Gwadar Port was fully equipped with the facilities that are required to handle variety of shipments, it
further informed.The committee was briefed that the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited had rolled out the WeBOC transit trade module in the
area while a User Acceptance Test (UAT) was in the anvil.The Ministry of Commerce informed the committee that the negotiations were being
carried out by bonded careers such as the National Logistic Cell and Pak-Afghan Cargo Services.A Special Incentives Package had been offered
to the Afghan Transit Traders the ministry officials said while briefing the committee about development of system that would help direct
all Afghan transit trade from Karachi to Gwadar.Chairman Committee, Senator Kauda Babar was of the view that Gwadar would never want to
deprive Karachi of business, however, those who wished to use Gwadar Port must be facilitated.Discussing Tax exemptions pertaining to Gwadar
Port and GFZ, the Committee was informed that the matter was under review at the Ministry of Law and Justice for its
recommendations.Reviewing the progress on Eastbay Expressway, the Committee stressed the need to protect the interest of locals.It was
recommended that the Planning Commission be summoned in the next meeting to review the matter in greater detail.Chairman Committee directed
the Gwadar Port Authority to expedite all matters so that the Port may become fully operational by October 15, 2019, after which the
Committee would visit the site.The Ministry of Commerce, FBR and Custom Directorate were directed to brief the Committee regarding the
existing rules and regulations related to the development of a zone at the port where the Chinese trawlers could store fish caught in
international waters for the export.The meeting was attended by Senator Moula Bux Chandio, and senior officers from the Ministry of Maritime
Affairs, Gwadar Port Authority FBR, PTCL along with all concerned.TheIndianSubcontinent has not verified the content of the source
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