Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof Ahsan Iqbal said the high-quality development of Pakistan’s Gwadar port under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a testimony that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is helping Gwadar evolve into a world-class port city brimming with opportunities.
Located in the southwestern Balochistan province, the port presents significant opportunities for maritime trade in the region, including giving access to the landlocked Central Asian country of Afghanistan, he told Xinhua in a recent interview.
“The current development of Gwadar is just the first step, and the port has a long way to go … In partnership with China, we hope that Gwadar will become an internationally acclaimed world-class port city, which will have tremendous opportunities for the people of Pakistan,” Iqbal added.
Launched in 2013, CPEC, a flagship project under the BRI, is a corridor linking Pakistan’s Gwadar port with Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The first phase highlights energy, transport, and industrial cooperation, while the new phase expands to agriculture and improving livelihoods, among other areas.
Under CPEC, both China and Pakistan are dedicated to developing Gwadar into a model smart city port. In this regard, a comprehensive master plan has been designed, and infrastructure is being developed.
Talking about the prospects for investment in the Gwadar free zone, Iqbal said that several Chinese companies have shown interest in investing in industrial plants for both domestic production and export to other countries.
He said all countries around the world have opportunities to invest in Gwadar, collaborate with Pakistan and China, and enjoy the fruits of CPEC.
“CPEC and the BRI seek a shared future based on common principles of prosperity shared across people.
And we appreciate that China is sharing its success with Pakistan and other countries to help them improve their infrastructure and socio-economic development,” he added.
He said that in Gwadar, China has not only focused on developing a state-of-the-art port facility but also contributed to the local socio-economic development with China-aided projects, including a modern hospital for the people of Gwadar, a technical training institution, a water desalination plant, and a 4F-class international airport.
He added that in addition to the mega projects, China also continues to help the underprivileged by providing them with solar panels to generate electricity and awarding scholarships for study in Chinese universities.
“China’s contribution in Gwadar has been precious in uplifting the lives of people and the region. Instead of just being a bystander, China has chosen to make its contribution,” Iqbal said.
The minister said that after completing early harvest projects in the first phase of CPEC, the forthcoming phase will unlock significant opportunities for Pakistan, enhancing livelihoods and socio-economic development.
He added that it would connect Pakistan with cutting-edge technologies, drive an agricultural revolution, and enhance industrial growth to boost its industrial capabilities, helping Pakistan become an export-led growth model.
Meanwhile, he expressed confidence in the new CPEC phase’s development speed.
