A Senate committee today approved the long-delayed Expo Center, Quetta project after Balochistan’s Chief Minister committed to establishing a second, separate expo facility near the city”s airport to address concerns over accessibility for international visitors.
The decision was reached during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce at Parliament House, presided over by its chairperson, Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan. The committee lauded the presence of the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, noting it signified the provincial government”s commitment to the project.
During the session, committee members voiced reservations regarding the long-term self-sustainability of the proposed expo centre at its current location, citing its distance from the airport and potential access difficulties for international delegates.
In his briefing, Chief Minister Bugti countered these concerns by affirming that Quetta is a secure city and highlighted that a Planning Commission body had already cleared the site from a security perspective. He also pointed out that the selected location is advantageously situated near a functioning industrial zone and that the project had already faced considerable delays.
To resolve the impasse, the Chief Minister presented a two-pronged strategy: proceeding with the original Expo Center project as planned, while the Government of Balochistan concurrently undertakes the establishment of an additional expo facility near Quetta Airport to better serve the business community.
Mr Bugti assured the panel that the location for the new provincial expo centre would be determined following consultations with the Balochistan Cabinet, committee members, and key commercial bodies, including the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Following these comprehensive deliberations and assurances, the committee reached a consensus and formally approved the Expo Center, Quetta project.
The meeting was also attended by Senators Faisal Saleem Rehman, Amir Waliuddin Chishti, Saleem Mandviwalla, and Rahat Jamali. Senators Sarmad Ali and Bilal Ahmed Khan participated remotely via video link.