Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated on Thursday the government’s resolve to develop the Gwadar Port as “one of the best” in the world.

“The fate of the people of Balochistan especially of Gwadar would be changed through the ongoing development operation across the province,” he said while addressing a laptop and cheques distribution ceremony in the port city.

He added that when PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif was elected prime minister for the third time in 2013, he planned and launched multiple projects in power, infrastructure and other sectors in Gwadar.

But he deplored that when he visited as prime minister last year here, he was “shocked” to note that, the previous government had “abandoned” work on all ongoing projects in the city.

Despite 15 months of a challenging time, the premier claimed that the coalition government managed to lay the foundation of development and prosperity in the country, especially in Balochistan.

“Balochistan is rich in huge minerals and other natural resources which needed to be explored and the fruits of the development of the area would be given to the local people,” he said.

The local people must enjoy all the basic facilities in all sectors including health and education, he added.

He said the draft of the Gwadar port was one the deepest among the world’s top ports, however dredging of the port which was a continuous process to prevent accumulating silt, was not ensured by the previous government.

The premier added that the current government initiated the dredging process which would be completed by February next year.

In five years from 2017 to 2022, he said that only 100,000 tons of goods could arrive here while goods of over 600,000 tons arrived here at the Gwadar Port during the 15 months of the incumbent government.

The prime minister announced that the laptop quota for Balochistan had now been increased to 14% against the 6% population share of the province. He also directed the authorities to further increase the laptop quota to 18% for the next fiscal year.

PM Shehbaz said default risk for Pakistan had been averted due to support from brotherly countries like China, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

On Wednesday, he said that China’s Exim bank had rolled over the loan of another $2.4 billion for the next two years. The premier made it clear that all the support from the friendly countries was totally “unconditional” as no country has placed any condition in return for the loan relief.

He also directed the authorities to put the security of foreigners on top priority.