Gwadar Port project a plan to divide Balochistan: Bugti

Staff Report

MULTAN: Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti, chief of the Bugti tribe, said on Sunday that the Gwadar Port project was in reality a plan to divide Balochistan and bring destruction, instability and poverty to the Baloch people.

Mr Bugti told reporters in a press conference at his native village Dera Bugti that in his view the plans to build Gwadar Port, setting up south Asia’s biggest naval and airbase in Pasni with the financial assistance of the American Central Command, allotment of land to Army soldiers and civil bureaucrats in Gwadar and declaring Gwadar a defence zone were in fact plans to destroy Balochistan.

Mr Bugti asked the government to form an authority with parliament’s approval on the development and construction projects in Gwadar, Pasni and other areas of Balochistan and that 60 percent representation in the authority be given to Balochs. “We welcome foreign investors, traders, industrialists, oil and gas explorers and mining companies in Balochistan but demand 51 percent share of locals in the profit made by the foreigners,” said Mr Bugti.

The Bugti tribe chief stressed the need for proper legislation to regulate investors to protect the rights and interests of the local people. Mr Bugti said his tribe would support the residents of Gwadar if they begin a campaign to achieve their rightss. He said his tribe had never opposed oil, gas and mineral exploration in Balochistan but have only demanded the protection of their rights, food and education.

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