QUETTA: About nine ships carrying 450,000 metric tons of imported wheat will be arrived at Gwadar port in the first week of March, due to which large-scale commercial boom is going to start at Gwadar port in the beginning of next month.
Operational preparations are in final stages for import of wheat in such a large volume at Gwadar port for which all stakeholders including Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), Pasco, LNC, Navy 3rd FP, security agencies, Deputy Commissioner Gwadar, Gwadar Customs , Gwadar Port Authority and Gwadar International Terminal Limited are busy.
These views were expressed by Secretary National food Security Zafar Hassan while chairing an important coordination meeting with Gwadar Port Operators and Gwadar International Terminal Limited to discuss the detailed operational management of wheat import at Gwadar Port.
Chairman China Overseas Ports Holding Company Yu Bo, Chief Operating Officer Gwadar International Terminal Limited Hio Jian, General Manager Operations Trading Corporation of Pakistan Shiraz Ali, Managing Director Pasco Captain (retd) Saeed Ahmed and others were present in the meeting.
Chairman Gwadar International Terminal Limited told the meeting that the import and delivery of urea was practiced at Gwadar port in the last month in which no shortcoming was revealed. He said that anchorage was ensured for incoming ships and two vessels could be operated simultaneously by 200 vehicles for wheat operations on a daily basis.
The Secretary National Food Security, while giving an indication to Gwadar Port to give this kind of business, said that this port, equipped with all kinds of facilities, was providing ease in the delivery of products, while 4,50,000 metric tons of wheat was transported through Gwadar port.
A formal agreement was signed last year between TCP and Gwadar International Terminal Limited for importation. This agreement is a major step towards enhancing the natural potential of Gwadar Port as a logistics hub in the region which will ultimately contribute USD 10 billion in GDP to Pakistan’s economy, he said.
He said that Gwadar International Terminal Limited’s statement said that Trading Corporation of Pakistan and Gwadar International Terminal Limited ratified the agreement on December 9.
The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet approved the lowest bid of a Russian company to import 450,000 metric tonnes of wheat through Gwadar port, he said.
He said that it was decided that the additional cost of inland transportation from Gwadar port would be borne by the pass which would be collected from the provinces at the time of release of wheat stocks.
Import of wheat through Gwadar will mark the beginning of a new era of business, trade and commercial activities at Gwadar port, he maintained.
Gwadar Port Authority announced the preparation of wheat import using Gwadar port as a new milestone and said that the import of wheat will boost commercial activities in Gwadar, it would also boost the employment potential as there will be a large demand for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled manpower when such activities take off.
