GWADAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the first phase of Gwadar Free Zone besides performing the groundbreaking of its second phase spread over 2,200 acres and also inaugurated three factories.
Addressing the launch of development projects and the signing ceremony of Memoranda of Understanding here in the port city, the prime minister said Gwadar would open up new avenues of opportunities for regional trade.
The prime minister said the future of Pakistan belonged to Gwadar, emerging as the ‘focal point of development’ and ensuring prosperity for the entire country.
Imran Khan mentioned the recently announced Rs 730 billion development budget for Balochistan by the federal government and said it was “historic”, and was aimed at uplift of the province and at mitigating the longstanding deprivation of its people.
“No country can progress unless it mainstreams all its areas and ensure development across the board,” he said, adding that connectivity was one of the major components of the Balochistan package.
The prime minister who arrived in Gwadar on a day-long visit inaugurated the first phase of Gwadar Free Zone besides performing the groundbreaking of its second phase spread over 2,200 acres also inaugurated three factories.
The prime minister said his vision of an emerging Pakistan was a steadfast nation that was committed to the prosperity of the country.
He said the government was focused on ensuring the provision of basic amenities in Gwadar and Balochistan, particularly clean water and electricity to encourage industrialization.
Imran Khan said the government was prioritizing development in far-flung areas of Balochistan, northern areas and rural Punjab.
The prime minister mentioned that Gwadar International Airport would encourage regional trade and boost economic activity.
He said a one-window operation was in progress to facilitate the investors and urged upon the provincial governments to ensure proper servicing of investors since the subject moved to them after the passage of the 18th Amendment.
Imran Khan thanked the government of China for the launch of water and solar projects in Balochistan, particularly in Gwadar.
“Pakistan can benefit from its strategic location and also from the expertise of its friend China, which is an economic power in the region,” he said.
He also mentioned the technical education provided by China to the youth of Gwadar, which he said, would prove greatly helpful as the foreign investment grew in future. APP
