GWADAR: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif claimed on Thursday that Gwadar seaport city would have become functional a long time ago had the initiatives his government took in 1991 and 1999 not been abandoned.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a string of development projects, he said that the Gwadar port was his dream and he was pleased to witness its development as an international city.

Mr Sharif regretted that the pace of development in Gwadar initiated by his government in 1991 had been disrupted. During his second tenure as prime minister he was going to inaugurate the Gwadar port in 1999 but the move was disrupted again, he added. Had these initiatives not been disrupted, the port city would have been developed a long time ago, he said.

However, Mr Sharif hoped, Gwa­dar would soon emerge as one of the most prosperous cities in the country.

The prime minister witnessed signing of several agreements between Pakistani and Chinese companies for different projects.

He said the start of multibillion dollar projects in Gwadar was proof that investors had confidence in Balochistan’s security situation. All these projects once completed in next few years would bring in a world-class seaport to the region, he added.

Mr Sharif said Gwadar was the central point of focus in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. The port city, he added, would have a positive impact not only on Balochistan, but the whole country.

He said the proposed 300MW coal-fired power plant would help energise various projects, including a de-salination plant, a $39 billion international airport and an efficient train service. Gwadar would be connected to the motorway and a road network through $100bn worth of projects, he said, adding that the city would also have a vocational training centre and a university.

Restoration of peace

The premier appreciated the role of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, police and other departments for bringing peace and stability to the province. Terrorists were on the run now and in their last-ditch efforts they were striking soft targets.

He said the newly inaugurated projects worth Rs50bn would help create 50,000 jobs and called for giving preference to the people of Gwadar and adjacent areas in recruitment.

Mr Sharif was grateful to the Chinese government for the support it extended for the development of the port city. He lauded China’s role as a ‘true friend’ and thanked the Chinese ambassador for announcing more funding for various projects in the city.

He said several coal-fired projects in other parts of the country would help enhance efficiency of the industries. Through its solar, wind and hydel projects the country would get rid of loadshedding by generating 10,000MW by 2018, he added.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Khan Zehri said that declaring Gwadar a ‘tax-free zone’ had helped attract investment and hoped that the pace of development would improve in the coming days. He also mentioned the setting up of a security division for the protection of foreign investors in the area.

He said the plummeting real estate business in the area had now been improving at a rapid rate. He spoke about a number of projects that were in different phases of completion, adding that the first phase of Gwadar Free Port would complete in 2017.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong mentioned his country’s support for the construction of Gwadar Free Zone and handing over a school for local students.

He said that people of Gwadar and those living along the CPEC would benefit the most and lead to economic development of Pakistan and the region.

Ultimate destination

Later, addressing a gathering after inaugurating a 174km road connecting Sibi with Kohlu, PM Sharif said that prosperity in Balochistan was the ultimate destination, adds APP.

“The prosperity of Balochistan is our destination. The course is coarse,” he said, adding that though many people had in the past talked about Balochistan’s development they never paved the way to reach this destination.

Executed by the National Logistics Cell (NLC), the road is the shortest link between Balochistan and Punjab.

After its completion, the distance between Sibi and Kohlu has been reduced from 600 to just 174 kilometres.

The work on the project was halted in 2006 owing to the law and order situation. However, it was revived after the government signed a contract with the NLC in 2014 that completed the project within one and a half years.

Mr Sharif announced the construction of a 20km road between Sibi and Talli and 80km road linking Kohlu with Rakhni.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2016