GWADAR: Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Dostain Khan Jamaldini described Gwadar Port as a game changer, saying that it is set to turn Pakistan into an economic hub of the region. He informed that the sea front area of partially-completed Gwadar port was more than 50 kilometres. So far only 1.4 percent of the Gwadar project could be completed mainly due to connectivity issues as N-85 highway (connecting M-8 with Panjgur) is expected to be functional in December 2015 while M-8 will be completed in April 2015 which will connect the port with land.
This was the crux of exclusive talks of Dostain Khan Jamaldini (DKJ) with Customs Today (CT) during an interview here.
CT: Why Gwadar port could not be made functional despite a lapse of seven years?
DKJ: “There are hundreds of ports around the world; Ports are not minor projects rather they are mega infrastructures, so we should first need to learn how it all works. First ports are completed and then its start operation. As a matter of fact, port is a point of entry and exit, so until there is no proper system for that purpose, the port could not be made functional. Gwadar port is a mega project of our history as on the one hand, it is 98.6 percent incomplete, yet it stands out in world’s high level sea ports. Unfortunately, our policy-maker do not get the essence of maritime economics; we think that by installing Cranes, building terminals and infrastructures will make port functional but it is not that easy. When I was working as Chief Planning and Development, we used to hear that the reason behind the Gwadar port non-functionality is connectivity problem with land routes. But later when I took charge as Chairman, I examined the world’s great ports and came to know that connectivity which Gwadar has was not blessed to even Singapore and Dubai ports. In annual report, it was mentioned that master plan of Gwadar is one of the World’s greatest port plans.
Dostain Khan informed that Gwadar port was blessed with 12.5 metre natural depth, ideal for motherships, adding that Gwadar was not only good for transit but it was also ideal for transshipment as Gwadar had never been disconnected via sea. “Look If we talk about free zone, people of Gwadar know better which area is good, they know the sea, and they catch fishes there,” the GDA chief pointed out, adding that free zone served many functions including packing, unpacking, processing and reassembling. “We can see there are many examples in the world where countries developed their economy from their ports,” he averred, adding that the National Highway Authority accepted the challenging time frame from the government for timely functioning of the Port. Frontier Works Organisation is also working day and night, adding that N-85 would be completed in December 2014 and M-8 in April 2015 which will resolve land connectivity problems of the port.
CT: Baloch Nationalist Parties have shown concerns over the rapid settlement of people from outside in Gwadar, what do you think are potential threats and benefits for people of Balochistan from Gwadar Port?
DKJ: My opinion on this question is similar to that of rest of Balochistan and the country that when you come up with some development, there always remained some communication gap with the people which work in anyway. When we start some mega project it comes with displacement, distraction and Development; first we have to displace people for development then it is very important to work on communication to tell people that this development is for their benefit otherwise they try to made that development is impossible but if you do carry out development, it would be easy in this way.
CT: Former GDA chairman Gwadar Port had mentioned about the presence of some lobby which was trying to delay Gawadar port operations. Now as the GDA Chairman what you think about the veracity of any such claims?
DSJ: There are many conspiracies theories about the functionality of Gawadar port. So behind every such theory there are some truths and some propaganda. “Look being the GDA incumbent chief he was not in a position to explain the issue in details. “Gwadar is not functional because of connectivity is also partially true. So, yes I feel the presence of lobby which is trying to hinder the development of Gawadar,” he made a veiled acknowledgement.
Profile
Dostain Khan Jamaldini was born in Kali Jamaldini of District Nushki and received his early education in Nushki and Karachi. Later, he graduated in Political Science from a foreign university. He started his career in 1990 and served as Secretary Finance, Secretary Energy, Secretary Religious Affairs, Joint Chief of Economics, Chief Planning and Development and Registrar of Balochistan IT & Management Sciences. He has been Chairman Gwadar Port Authority since 2013 to-date.
