KARACHI: The Nawaz Sharif government envisages not only a motorway from Gwadar to Karachi, but also an airport, a hospital, a university and a technical institute, with the objective of turning Gwadar into a fully functional city within five years, said special assistant to the prime minister Tariq Fatemi at a session on Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Objectives, organised by the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations on Monday evening.

He added that two power plants in Gwadar would start functioning next month.

In his keynote address, Mr Fatemi addressed a number of critical foreign policy issues ranging from enhancing relations with China to supporting Afghanistan’s new government and to ensuring cordial relations with India.

Highlighting his government’s policy of economic diplomacy, he said: “Nawaz Sharif believes that Pakistan has to move away from traditional forms of diplomacy. It must become a tool for the economic wellbeing of its people. That is why within hours of taking oath of office, he issued directions to our missions abroad that their goals need to be reoriented towards commercial interests. All his foreign travels have had robust economic objectives.”

He said since Pakistan was located at crossroads of South Asia, the Gulf and the Middle East, it needed to take full advantage of its geographical position. He cited the example of relations with China to emphasise his point. “In the past eight to nine months, I have visited China four times. The visits have been geared in areas in which China can aid and assist us. We are planning a Pakistan-China economic corridor, which is a massive project involving billions of dollars.”

He, however, tempered the ambitious plans with caution saying that its materialisation would take several years, adding “but the size and scale of the project should not deter us. In fact we should double our efforts.”

He also outlined other upcoming projects with China including 16 power projects of which 10 are planned for Gadani and six for Punjab.

Regarding India, Mr Fatemi said: “The prime minister is convinced that it is advantageous for both countries to have cordial relations. We are monitoring the events next door and irrespective of which coalition comes to power, we will reach out to them with sincerity.”

Later during the question and answer session, Dr Farooq Sattar of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement asked Mr Fatemi about relations with India, particularly easing of the visa process, opening of consulates in Mumbai and Karachi and increased use of trade routes particularly Munabao-Khokhrapar. “We are prepared to take any initiative and that includes visa facilitation and trade expansion,” he said, adding that it was now up to the Indian leadership to enhance these relations as the political leadership here was supportive of engaging with India.

With respect to Afghanistan, he said President Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister Sharif have had four meetings so far and consequently there were far better relations between Kabul and Islamabad. “We do not wish to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. We have no favourites; it is for the people of Afghanistan to elect whoever they want as their president. Whoever comes to power we will reach out to him and will work on better economic relations and border management.”

Mr Fatemi said: “Pakistan has had a long and chequered history with the United States. Some people say that it is a transactional relationship while others assess it to be a relation of extremes saying that either we are the most allied of allies or the most sanctioned ally.”

He said he was present in the rose garden when the Mujahideen were feted as freedom fighters and was also there in September 1990 when all assistance to Pakistan was ended on suspicions of having nuclear interest. “The current status between the two countries is that we are now involved in a strategic dialogue process where we understand each other’s compulsions but with dignity and honour.”

Despite his busy schedule, a point made repeatedly by moderator of the session Dr Huma Baqai, Mr Fatemi took questions from the audience, some being quite hostile. He diplomatically answered the questions acknowledging the Foreign Office’s weaknesses.