Sindh Assembly passes bill to establish Gorakh Hills Development Authority

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Jamil Khan
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly unanimously approved on Friday the bill proposing to establish the Gorakh Hill Development Authority, with the Sindh chief minister as its chairman and the minister for Culture and Tourism as vice chairman.
Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro chaired the session. Members from the coalition party, MQM, and opposition party, PML-Q, also appreciated the bill and hoped that Gorakh Hill Station would be developed as a priority. Sindh Culture and Tourism Minister Sassui Palijo opened the debate by highlighting its salient features.
In 1989, PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto directed work on the feasibility report on this project through an executive order but the last couple of governments never took any serious steps, she said. Gorakh Hill Station is located in District Dadu on the borders of Sindh and Balochistan. “The station, one of the coolest places in the province with temperatures of three degrees below zero, will not only benefit Sindh but all of Pakistan as well and will be a very popular picnic spot,” she stated.
Palijo vowed that the board will consist of representatives from Dadu and Shahdadkot and members of the Sindh Assembly to make this project effective. “Work on a master plan has been completed, with the cost estimated at Rs 17 million, which is to be provided by the provincial government,” she said.
MPA Jam Tamachi was of the view that it was one of the oldest dreams of the people of Sindh but has yet to be fulfilled. “We should compare ourselves with the performance of Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif who developed the Data Darbar within two years, but in Sindh work on Shahbaz Qalander’s shrine has yet to be completed even after nine years,” he mentioned.
He said that instead of setting up another autonomous body, the government should empower the DCO concerned to carry out the project. He pointed to the roads completed by the previous government, which he said were washed out during the rains. “There was no check and balance and the contractor built such substandard roads,” he said.
Minister for Katchi Abadis and Special Development Rafique Engineer said that this project will improve the socioeconomic condition of the locals of Dadu and the surrounding areas. “The lack of industrial zones in districts Dadu and Sehwan means that the people have very limited job opportunities but with the development of the Gorakh Hill Station, they will get more jobs, in addition to benefiting from the increased tourism,” he said.
MQM’s Heer Sohu suggested that a member of their party, a coalition party, be incorporated in the board and other points, such as Keenjhar Lake and others also be developed in a similar manner. Sindh Industries and Commerce Minister Rauf Siddiqui, also of the MQM, suggested that to expedite functions of authority, the board be headed by the tourism minister as the CM already has overall authority.
Anwar Mahar suggested that law and order be enforced, to which Paleejo said that the home minister is onboard this project, who will ensure that police check posts are established every eight kilometers apart.
Arif Mustafa Jatoi of the PML-Q drew attention to a clause of the bill which said the developing authority will obtain land from the local people by agreement, while not defining the service area. He suggested the authority ask people to sell their land at minimum rates to avoid burdening the government.
Other members discussed incorporating the locals into the development process and initiating steps to advertise the project nationally and internationally.
The house will next meet on Monday at 9.30am.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...08_pg12_14

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Bill passed to establish development authority



Saturday, August 30, 2008
By our correspondent

Karachi

The Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a bill on Friday to establish the “Gorakh Hills Development Authority” to expedite infrastructure work on this picnic point, which would generate employment opportunities as well as boosting economy of the province through tourism.

Minister for Culture and Tourism Sassui Palejo said that Gorakh Hills located on 5,688 feet height and spread over 2,000 acres was identified as a resort in 1950. However, like Keti Bandar and Thal coal reserves, it did not get attention from the successive regimes due to lack of political will.

She said that Benazir Bhutto had sought its feasibility report for the first time through executive order in 1989, adding, but no authority existed to expedite infrastructure work on it.

She said Rs173m have been earmarked for providing electricity and Rs390m for developing roads there, adding that a committee led by chief secretary Sindh has been set up and opposition members would also be inducted in it.

Jam Tamachi said developing Gorakh Hills was an old demand of the people of Sindh but unfortunately millions of rupees have been wasted without developing the resort.

Rafiq Engineer said Gorakh Hills resort would bring significant socio-economic changes in interior Sindh where no industries existed.

Heer Soho said MQM members should also be given representation in the committee.

Anwar Mahr said better law and order situation should be ensured prior to developing the resort.

Ms Sassui Palejo replied that police posts would be set up after each 8km on the 54 km long road, linking the hills.

She said the home minister has been made member of the concerned committee for the purpose.

Rauf Siddiqi said with the development of Gorakh Hills, unemployment would be controlled to a large extent in the province.

Syed Sardar Ahmed said Gorakh Hills was an ancient place belonging to even pre-historic period which was inhibited by the followers of Buddhism. He said members of the coalition and opposition parties should also be included in the committee.

Shazia Marri said developing tourism has become necessary in the present day era, adding that the present government was showing political will to develop Thar coal reserves as well as the Gorakh Hills.

Syed Murad Ali Shah said several picnic points were located in the surroundings of Gorakh Hills like Khirthar Park, Bagro Hills, Rani Kot, Asia’s biggest Manchar Lake, Hamal Lake, etc. He said T.B. Sanitarium was established there because its weather was good for such patients but unfortunately it was ignored.

Opposition leader Jam Madad said that Sindh has big potential for tourism and development of such sites would help end joblessness. He said if proper atmosphere was provided there, people from all over the world would come to visit these areas.

Minister for Law Ayaz Soomro said that around 500 to 700 people have been residing at Gorakh Hills.

Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, observed that Sehwan Development Authority was set up in 1993 for expediting work at the resort.

As the Friday prayers time approached, the law minister presented motion, which was unanimously passed to read 35 clauses of the bill together to make it into a law. Later, the speaker adjourned the proceedings till Monday at 9:00 a.m.

Meanwhile, reporters covering the Sindh Assembly session staged a token walkout on Friday against the alleged harassment of a reporter of a private TV channel in Karachi, the killing of a journalist in Dadu, and implicating another reporter in a criminal case in Thano Bola Khan.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=132791