Gwadar project on schedule, envoy says
Power plant is being built to provide electricity to the city
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masoud Khalid, yesterday said work was well under way on Gwadar port and he had confidence it would be fully operational in three to four years.
A power plant is being set up to provide electricity to the city and port, and the existing airport and highways are being expanded.
“In three to four years, Gwadar will become a different city, and Gwadar port will be fully operational,” he said during an exclusive interview with China. org.cn.
“In fact, ships have now started arriving and they are bringing cargo and equipment for the work on the port. All in all the progress is good. We need to work faster on the airport. We need the airport as soon as possible, and the roads,” he added.
‘Very competitive’
On how Gwadar would contribute to the region’s economy and security, he said it is an important port in terms of its location and it is very close to the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East, and it will link up with China.
“We already have a highway to China, and we are working on upgrading and improving it so that it can become the main artery for trade and business between Pakistan and China,” he added.
Ambassador Khalid said the idea is that exports from China pass along this road, reach Gwadar, and are then transshipped to Africa and Europe. In terms of distance and cost, Gwadar will be very competitive, adding, “I am confident that it will gain momentum in the years to come.”
He said the port will serve the commercial and business interests not only of Pakistan but also of China and of the other countries in the region.” The whole of Central Asia is
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China
landlocked, and these countries need access to the seas for commerce and trade — we are in the ideal location to provide this.”
He said one company from Xinjiang has started to import seafood into China, but this industry needs to be upgraded, so the local fishermen can use modern technology to catch fish and to process and export them.
Pakistan and China are mutual neighbours of several Central Asian countries, so Gwadar port will give a big impetus to the economic development of the entire region, he said.
Ambassador Khalid said the port will play an important role in promoting China’s commerce, trade and business through Pakistan to the outside world, and also the reverse and added, “In fact, we have a plan in the future to link Gwadar with Kashgar through energy pipelines and communication infrastructure.”
He said where there are projects, there are jobs, and CPEC was contributing to the socioeconomic development of Pakistan and to the welfare of the Pakistani people.