GWADAR: A high-level Chinese delegation under the leadership of Yang Zan Director General of Department of International Cooperation Ministry of Transport visited Gwadar and discussed the possibilities of linking the port through road and rail with China and other regional countries to make it fully functional for future trade and economic activities.
In the meeting between the delegation headed by Yang Zan and the officials of Gwadar port authorities, the plan of the proposed Pakistan-China Economic Corridor was also discussed. It was observed that it could not achieve goals of economic development and progress and prosperity until Gwadar port was made fully functional.
Under the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor Gwadar Port would be linked through road and rail up to Kashgar that would be a shortest route for China to use Gwadar port for its future trade with Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asian states, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries.
The Chinese delegation observed that Gwadar port could prove to be an economic hub and future’s successful big deep sea port.
Sources said that Chinese officials expressed keen interest in investment in various sectors including energy, road construction and expansion of Gwadar port. The port’s expansion was the part of its actual plan under which more berths would be constructed. They also vowed to take all possible efforts to provide maximum required facilities to make Gwadar port fully functional.
Briefing the meeting, Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Dosteen Khan Jamaldani said Pakistan-China Economic Corridor has great importance in the success of Gwadar port and it will create many jobs as well.
He further informed the meeting that the province has great potential in various sectors and specially minerals. “Heavy mineral based industries could be set up in Balochistan,” he said.
The government also determined to make Gwadar port a perfect port of the region that would provide best trade facilities to entire region. The construction of Pakistan-China Economic Corridor is also part of its future planning.
The officials of the 15 members’ Chinese delegation also visited Gwadar port where they were briefed about the future planning of the government. Joint Secretary Ms Rukhsana Rehman, DS railway Quetta division Faiz Muhammad Bugti, Director General National Highways Authority Mushtaq Ahmed and Deputy Commissioner Gwadar Dr Tufail Ahmed also attended the meeting.
