admin
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, directed the immediate initiation of steps for operationalizing Gwadar Port on a commercial basis. The decision was made in a cabinet meeting held in Islamabad, in which he established a committee, led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, tasked with working together with relevant authorities to transform the port into a fully functional and modern hub.
The Prime Minister further added that Gwadar Port can change the regional economy and needs to be expedited as far as operationalization is concerned. He was of the opinion that a holistic marketing strategy be evolved to portray the potential of the port, and he also proposed holding an international conference for creating awareness of the strategic importance of the port.
In the meeting, it was discussed that this port has the space to accommodate ships of up to 50,000 deadweight tons and has access to the Persian Gulf; thus, it will be one of the critical transshipment ports for the Gulf countries. Additionally, it is expected to contribute a lot in Balochistan’s mining and fishing sectors, and it is going to be a crucial trading route for China and Central Asia.
During the meeting, discussions also occurred concerning tax exemptions on the Gwadar Free Zone to facilitate more investment in that area. More importantly, its rules and regulations have also been improved for increased investment inflows.
It has been told that due to neglect in dredging operations from 2018 to 2022, depth could not be maintained. However, the dredging work carried out in 2022-2023 restored its capacity. At this port, all utility services are now available and public welfare projects like Pak-China Friendship Hospital and Gwadar Institute of Technical Education have been started.
The government is also working on the construction of a rail link to Pakistan Railways’ Main Line M-4 and the completion of the Gwadar-Quetta Highway, which has benefited key areas in Balochistan. The construction of the Gwadar Eastbay Expressway is ongoing, and plans are in place for roads connecting Nokundi to Mashkhel and Mashkhel to Panjgur.
The Prime Minister reiterated that the government is committed to developing Gwadar Port as a center of trade and regional development. The Minister of Planning proposed that cargo inspection facilities at the port be upgraded using artificial intelligence for greater efficiency.
