Gwadar - A Jewel in the Crown
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Gwadar
The Emerging City
The Emerging City
History repeats itself is true for all times. There was a time when Karachi was just a small fishing village it developed gradually into a township along coast and today is one of the village to an international seaport that may well lay the foundation of a mega polis In the near future, its growth as a new emerging city has been prompted by government's exclusive efforts who seems committed to make Gwadar an international city in the real sense. The fast development of Gwadar in the first instance has been ensured through an official declaration that has awarded Gwadar the status of duty free port as well.
The president of Pakistan
Musharaf
The president of Pakistan admitted that Gwadar is becoming a trade center for the new world and acclaimed that Gwadar is not only a free port but also a trade route of the import and export for more than half of the world. Nature has made us important region of the world geographically and it can benefit not only Pakistan but most of the world as well. He stressed that the time will come soon when the world will come to Pakistan for business and employment due to Gwadar. He also promised to remove all hindrances in the way to completion of this mega project for national economics progress
The prime minister of Pakistan
Shaukat Aziz
The prime minister of Pakistan has urged to make Gwadar a contemporary port with other ports of the world and pronounced Gwadar to be a base of the development of Pakistan, while issuing resentment for handling over the port operation to 'Dubai Port World'
Prime minister told that Dubai Port World has been managing dozens of terminals of different countries including Asia, Europe and USA since 1972 with immensely experienced team of professionals. The prime Minister was satisfied with the speed of development Work in Gwadar and said that Gwadar will become a high-tech trade centre of the world in near future.
Gwadar Development Authority
Ahmed Baksh Lehri
The most expensive land in a Beach city is its seafront. Crown City owns the largest seafront of all the projects on the beachside those have been issued NOC. The public will enjoy best opportunity to avail trade; residence and luxuries of its own kind after these projects on seaside are developed. Crown City has made a comprehensive planning for the development to meet international standards of residential and commercial activates. D.G of GDA said that Pakistan and overseas Pakistanis should benefit from the investment opportunity in Gwadar.
The prime minister of Pakistan has urged to make Gwadar a contemporary port with other ports of the world and pronounced Gwadar to be a base of the development of Pakistan, while issuing resentment for handling over the port operation to 'Dubai Port World'
Prime minister told that Dubai Port World has been managing dozens of terminals of different countries including Asia, Europe and USA since 1972 with immensely experienced team of professionals. The prime Minister was satisfied with the speed of development Work in Gwadar and said that Gwadar will become a high-tech trade centre of the world in near future.
Gwadar Development Authority
Ahmed Baksh Lehri
The most expensive land in a Beach city is its seafront. Crown City owns the largest seafront of all the projects on the beachside those have been issued NOC. The public will enjoy best opportunity to avail trade; residence and luxuries of its own kind after these projects on seaside are developed. Crown City has made a comprehensive planning for the development to meet international standards of residential and commercial activates. D.G of GDA said that Pakistan and overseas Pakistanis should benefit from the investment opportunity in Gwadar.
The Mega Projects
Deem Sea Port
Due to the emergence of an international deem seaport in Gwadar, land-locked Afghanistan, and the Central Asian Countries will have an access to the sea while the Middle East, China and Japan would also be facilitated.
Railway Track
Pakistan government has planned to construct a new railway Track joining Central Asian Countries with in boosting trade in the region.
Largest international airport
Pakistan Government has planned one of the biggest international Airports in Gwadar City with many terminals.
Gwadar Port
Gwadar port-phase 2
People's Republic of china will soon be initiating the extension work of Gwadar port phase 2 on the completion of this new phase, Gwadar port will be big enough to work more dynamitically and after trans-shipment and cargo handling service more extensively to the neighboring countries and beyond.
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About Gwadar
Once a small fishing town along the Makran Coast is now set to become a mega seaport which will fulfill the requirement of three geographically important regions, The entire subcontinent, Wes China, central Asia States, and Afghanistan.
The Gwadar Project, recently inaugurated by President Musharraf, is the fourth mega project initiated by the present regime for the uplift of the people of Balochistan-Pakistan's strategically important, yet in socio-economic terms, most neglected province. The other three important projects are Mirani Dam, revival of Saindak Project and Coastal Highway.
Located at the Arabian Sea Coast with vast, arid and extremely backward Mekran Division of Balochistan as hinterland, Gwadar deep sea port, being built with Chinese co-operation, will not only enhance Pakistan's strategic importance in Southwest Asian region, it will usher in a new era of socio-economic development in Balochistan because, as President Pervez Musharraf has rightly pointed out, this area, after the construction of Gwadar Port, will become hub of economic and trade activities in the whole region . The people of Balochistan have for long been in need of such development projects, but unfortunately, almost every past regime had paid only lip service to their demands, doing nothing practically . The need for an alternate deep-sea port has since long been recognised, both from strategic view-point and economic perspectives. Gwadar was the best choice because it offered ideal conditions for building a deep-sea port and secondly, it is situated 470 km away from Karachi, making it less vulnerable to the Indian naval blockade, which Pakistan faced during the 1971 War . Despite the fact that Karachi was increasingly becoming clogged due to heavy cargo, the work on Gwadar suffered from foot-dragging and official apathy. When the military government assumed power, it gave the go ahead and initiated negotiations with China to speed up work on the Gwadar Project. For this purpose, Pakistan's Finance Minister, Mr. Shaukat Aziz visited Beijing in August last year where he signed an agreement with Chinese leaders on the construction of Gwadar deep-sea port and coastal highways. Under the agreement, the Chinese will provide $ 200 million to Pakistan for the construction of the first phase of the project. The total cost would be $ 250 million and the work is proposed to be completed in three years. President Musharraf performed the groundbreaking ceremony of Mekran Coastal Highway, Phase II, Turbat-Mand Road and Mirani Dam on August 17 last year in Gwadar. Pakistan's Minister for Communication, who declared that the area would be made a Free-Trade Zone for exports to the Gulf region, also accompanied the President
The construction of a deep-sea port at Gwadar is just one component of the Greater Gwadar Plan . Under this Plan, which will be carried out by Gwadar Development Authority, in addition to Gwadar port, a network of roads, connecting Gwadar with Karachi, Pasni , Ormara and Turbat will be constructed in four phases. The Coastal Highway linking Karachi with Gwadar (675 km) is being built simultaneously with the port. Other highways, from Pasni to Gwadar (135km), Ormara-Gwadar (275km) and Gwadar-Turbat (188 km) will be built in Phase II of the project. The first two phases of the project, costing about Rs. 3 billion, will be completed in two to three years. In phase III, Pasni will be connected with Ormara and in the fourth phase, Pasni will be connected to Gupt at the Iranian border. This network of roads will finally be connected with China through the Indus Highway. Under an agreement, Pakistan, China, Kazakhistan, Kyrgizstan and Uzbekistan are already committed to developing extensive railroad links from Central Asia and the Chinese province of Sinkiang to the Arabian Sea Coast. The completion of this communication network will not only facilitate the movement of goods from China and Central Asian Republics to the countries of the Persian Gulf, Middle East, East Africa, the Indian Ocean and beyond through Gwadar, the countries of these regions will also have an easy and short route for access to Central Asia for trade and economic co-operation purposes. In this scenario, Gwadar port emerges as a place of great strategic value, giving tremendous boost to Pakistan's importance in the whole region, extending from the Persian Gulf through the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia and the Far East.
FROM PAKISTAN'S PERSPECTIVE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GWADAR PORT WILL STRENGTHEN ITS ECONOMY AND DEFENCE. GWADAR IS SITUATED AT A DISTANCE OF 470 KM WESTWARD FROM KARACHI ON THE ARABIAN SEA COAST, WHICH MAKES IT A BIT DIFFICULT FOR THE INDIAN NAVY TO ACHIEVE A NAVAL BLOCKADE OF PAKISTAN.
The project is being built with Chinese help and co-operation, which will, as President Musharraf said, further strengthen Pak-China friendship . Although Pakistan, during the last about four decades, has provided an opening to China on the countries of the Persian Gulf, Middle East and East Africa, Gwadar will give the Chinese an opportunity to establish for the first time a naval presence in the Arabian Sea and Western part of the Indian Ocean. The Chinese are already comfortably placed in Myanmar in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean; their presence at Gwadar will further increase their naval presence in the Indian Ocean, which has gained strategic prominence in view of America's war on Afghanistan. The Indians as well as Americans seem to be considerably perturbed over the Chinese participation in the Gwadar Project, perceiving it as a bid by the Chinese to gain a strategic footing in the North western part of the Indian Ocean, where the Americans maintain a formidable naval presence through a chain of military bases and concentration of warships and submarines. The Indians have become so alarmed over the Chinese participation in the construction of Gwadar port that their policy makers and strategic planners have strongly urged their government to immediately take measures for the modernisation and up-gradation of the Indian navy, which with two fleets is already the largest naval force in Southeast Asia.
The Gwadar Project, when completed, will bring urgently needed socio-economic development to the Mekran Division of Balochistan, which is the most backward area of the province . Despite the fact that the region is of great historical and strategic value, it lags far behind the other parts of Balochistan in terms of literacy attainment, health facilities and employment opportunities. There is no industry and because of the lack of water, only a small portion of land is brought under cultivation. Most of the people live in rural areas without essential civic amenities like electricity, safe drinking water and health facilities. The dominant profession is cattle breeding, which has also badly suffered over the last few years due to persistent drought and consecutive failure of rains. The Gulf had been a major source of income for the local people, but due to 1991 War and deteriorating economic conditions in the Arab Sheikhdoms, a large majority of the people from Mekran working in the Gulf countries as skilled and unskilled workers have recently returned.
The return of expatriates has not only caused a set back to an already fragile economy of the region, it has led to the rise of serious social problems like narcotics use, smuggling, unemployment, crime and alienation among the youth. The implementation of mega projects like Gwadar is, therefore, extremely important in Balochistan and particularly in Mekran, which politically is one of the most sensitive areas of Pakistan. Apart from such benefits like enhancement of strategic value of the country and tangible socio-economic benefits for the people of the region, the implementation of Gwadar Project would restore the credibility of the federal government of Pakistan among the people of Balochistan who, for the last five decades, have been fed on false promises of development. Take for example, Mirani Dam and Saindak Project. The people of Dasht valley have been hearing about the building of a dam on the Dasht River since fifties. Many a time the plans for its construction were announced. But, then, nothing was heard about them. It is only the present government that has taken concrete steps to implement the Mirani Dam Project. Similarly, the Saindak Project has been revived after a delay of two decades. There is a widespread perception among the people of Balochistan, particularly in Mekran division and coastal areas of the province that their areas are deliberately kept underdeveloped by the federal bureaucracy for political reasons. Through implementation of mega projects like Gwadar, the present government will not only cause socio-economic development in the region, it will make an important contribution to the process of national integration.
Geopolitical importance of Gwadar port
Strategic location of Gwadar, and possible oil lines through the region
The Gwadar deep-sea port emerges as a place of great strategic value, enhancing Pakistan's importance in the whole region, extending from the Persian Gulf through the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia and the Far East.
Gwadar is located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, close to the important Straits of Hormuz, through which more than 13 million bbd of oil passes. It is strategically located between three increasingly important regions of the world: the oil-rich Middle East, heavily populated South Asia and the economically emerging and resource-rich Central Asia.
The construction Gwadar deep-sea port is just one component of a larger development plan which includes building a network of roads connecting Gwadar with the rest of Pakistan, such as the 650 km Coastal Highway to Karachi and the Gwadar-Turbat road (188 km). This network of roads connects with China through the Indus Highway. Pakistan, China, Kazakhistan, Kyrgizstan and Uzbekistan are developing extensive road and rail links from Central Asia and the Chinese province of Sinkiang to the Arabian Sea coast.
The Government has initiated several projects, with majority financial and technical assistance from China, to develop Gwadar's strategic location as a goods transit and trade point. The primary project is the construction of a deep-sea port at Gwadar to enable high-volume cargo movement to and from the landlocked Central Asian states. The new port will also encompass conversion facilities to allow for the movement of natural gas as a part of plans for a termination point for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan natural gas pipeline. The secondary project is a coastal highway connecting Gwadar to Karachi, whose $200 million cost will be completely financed by the Chinese. Gwadar will serve as a port of entry for oil and gas to be transported by land to the western regions of China. China has been promised sovereign guarantees for use of the ports.
The significance of Gwadar is great to both Pakistan and China. Pakistan will be able to have a strategic depth southwest from its naval base in Karachi that has long been vulnerable to blockade by the Indian Navy. There have been many reports that China, with permission from Pakistan, will also be able to dock naval ships in or around Gwadar. This has caused much concern by both the United States and India as both of these nations do not wish to see a Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean.
Burj Al Gwadar a GDA approved project of 1600 sq yds against NOC# 06/07/BPC/COMM/GDA dated 17/02/2007 with superb construction and state of the art finishes is located on main Gwadar Development Authority 264 ft. wide existing Air Port road. Where electricity, telephone, water & gas facilities already exists. Burj Al Gwadar is in the middle of existing airport & deep seaport.
Burj Al Gwadar is on a walking distance from Gwadar Port Authority Civic Centre (inaugurated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz) and Super Market, Future Stock Exchange, Expo Centre.
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Mobile Shops, IT Market & Electronics.
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Display Centres.
Medical Stores.
Clothes & Garments.
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Chinese (Product) Market.
Features:
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Generators For Common Areas.
Latest Public Address System.
Customer Service Desk
Round The Clock Maintenance Staff.
High Speed Internet Facility.
Covered Car Parking For Allottes.
Sufficient Car Parking For Visitors.
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Gwadar Oil City: Pakistan, China to sign agreements in early 2008
ISLAMABAD: During the forthcoming visit of Chinese president in early 2008, Pakistan and China are set to sign agreements on Chinese investments in Gwadar Oil City, incentives for setting-up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Gwadar seaport development programme for expansion of bilateral trade and strengthening of investment relations.
All these initiatives are considered to be essential for the success of Trade Energy, Transport and Industrial Corridor between Pakistan and China, a senior government official told Daily Times on Tuesday.
A steering committee headed by deputy chairman Planning Commission and comprising minister of State for investment, secretary general revenue division, prime ministers advisor on energy and members from all four provinces, and concerned federal ministries have been directed to prepare well before the visit of Chinese president and within 90 days incentive packages for realising the targets of the corridor.
Energy advisor has been directed to recommend within 60 days the oil concessions for Chinese companies with the objective of attracting Chinese companies to bring in at least 200 rigs to Pakistan. This policy will be open to other interested exploration companies as well.
President of Pakistan has approved establishment of Trade Energy, Transport and Industrial Corridor between Pakistan and China.
To implement the initiatives for realising the objectives of the corridor, president has also approved constitution of a 16-member policy, supervisory board and constitution of over 10 members steering committee.
The corridor would require a set of 14 important measures to make this initiative a success. It has been decided that Pak-China bilateral working group would be constituted to prepare and finalise the action plan for building the Multi-Model Corridor. General attractive concessions would be given for the development of SEZs.
Site for China-Saudi Oil refinery in proposed Oil City at Gwadar would be identified and terms and conditions for investment would be decided on priority basis. Government of Balochistan has been asked to identify state land for development of projects at Gwadar out of which 50 square kilometres land will be allocated to Chinese developers at nominal rates for establishment of SEZs.
The Gwadar Sea Port development programme (Arthur D Little and Chinese Plans), which has been approved would be negotiated with Chinese investors to attract investment in this area. Financial incentives equal or better than Chinese SEZs would be provided to the investors in the said area.
Under the corridor plan, a high speed and capacity link of Gwadar with international optical fibre cables would be established. As an essential first step, coal mining would be commenced by setting up a joint venture company comprising of Pakistani stakeholders and foreign companies.
Federal government has already showed its willingness to resolve the issue of land for economic zones in different parts of the country, in addition to special lease of land at Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar for international entrepreneurs including Chinese companies to build 15-20 story offices and business support centres residency blocks for the perspective investors.
The policy and supervisory board would be constituted for providing strategic vision by laying down policy guidelines, ensuring timely decisions and regular monitoring of the progress. It has been decided that the President of Pakistan will head the board and other members would be prime minister, federal ministers of Ports and Shipping, Communication, Railways, Petroleum and Natural Resources, Industries and Production, Commerce, Water and Power, governor and chief minister Balochistan, minister of State for investment, deputy chairman Planning Commission, secretary general finance, secretary general revenue division and secretary Foreign Affairs.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
Poland seeking joint ventures in Gwadar
Friday, October 19, 2007
QUETTA: Consul-General of Poland in Karachi, Ireneusz Makles has said that his country was interested to cooperate with Pakistan in oil and gas, energy, infrastructure, maritime, engineering and food processing sectors as well as in developing industries in Gwadar.
Speaking at a roundtable conference on Poland-Pakistan economic relations with reference to Balochistan, organised by the Balochistan Economic Forum on Thursday, he said that his country could supply electric equipment including diesel generators, railway equipment, agriculture machinery and spare parts, heavy vehicles and marine and diesel engines. He said Poland was also interested to cooperate with Pakistan in coal mining.
The experts of biggest Polish Mining Corporation Kopex had visited Quetta in April last to acquaint themselves with the current requirements and plans of Balochistan to invest, establishment of joint ventures with Pakistani companies as well as delivering mining machinery.
Referring to Gwadar port, the Polish diplomat termed it gateway to Asia, very modern, soon the biggest port in the region that would make Pakistan the maritime hub for the region linking Europe, the West with Central Asian states. The port would also serve as an energy corridor for Central Asia, Middle East, South Asia and western parts of Asia. Makles said that it was his desire to work closely with Balochistan Economic Forum and Pakistani business communities to boost bilateral trade and economic co-operation.
Earlier, Sardar Shaukat Aziz of Balochistan Economic Forum, welcoming the distinguished guest, highlighted various investment opportunities in Balochistan with special reference to Poland.
A former president Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fazal Qadir Shirani also spoke on the occasion and asked the Polish CG to help in setting up fruit processing plants and supply construction machinery.
Poland seeking joint ventures in Gwadar
Work on second phase of Gwadar port to begin by year-end
ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: The second phase of Gwadar deep seaport construction is expected to be started before the year-end by the Singapore Port Authority (SPA) for which it is lining up new investment in the country.
The government has taken a decision to allow the SPA to undertake the mighty second phase of the Gwadar Port preferably within this year, Director General of Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Ahmad Buksh Lehri told Dawn on Thursday.
He said that Phase-1 had cost $298 million and the SPA, the operator of the port which had been given a lease for a long period of time to run it efficiently, was currently working out its investment plan for the second phase.
The government, Mr Lehri said, had given to the SPA 16 acres of land which included a tax-free zone.
Answering a question, the GDA chief said that the SPA had successfully overcome initial problems and that the port was likely to be fully operational in December with three berths handling the ships. However, to handle big ships more berths would be required, he added.
He said that the SPA was being provided all the necessary equipment including cranes and buildings.
New equipment, provided by the government, is also being installed by the SPA, Mr Lehri said.
In reply to a question, he said that there was no law and order problem in Gwadar. However, he said that the Coastal Highway, which was damaged by the recent floods, should be repaired on a priority basis.
More warehouses and other equipment were also needed to enhance countrys foreign trade, he added.
Earlier, the Singapore-based operators were told to expedite the work especially after having received a 40-year tax holiday despite the concern expressed by other investors and the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The GDA director general said since the government had already been extending tax exemptions and tax holidays in various industrial and duty-free economic zones, the SPA was also offered a tax holiday.
He said export processing zones were also enjoying certain tax holidays and exemptions and there was nothing exceptional in the case of SPA, which was investing $550 million.
The Gwadar port located in Balochistan is being considered a future trading hub in the region because of being so close to the Gulf region.
Initially, it is expected to face competition from the Iranian port of Salalah, but after the completion of Phase-2 by 2010 at a cost of $840 million, it is likely to become one of the busiest ports in the region. It will provide warehousing, transhipment and industrial facilities for trade with over 20 countries including the Gulf countries, Iran, Central Asian states, India, China and East Africa.
The government has also planned some other concessions for the proposed Export Processing Zone (EPZ) to be located near the Gwadar port for local and foreign investors. There will be customs, sales tax and excise duty exemptions in the EPZ to promote substantial investment in Gwadar.
A number of foreign investors have shown interest in establishing mega refineries, building storage capacity and undertaking other businesses in Gwadar to help expedite the process of industrialisation in Balochistan.
Land for the new international airport has been acquired after giving due payments to the landowners. The government is said to have released about Rs4 billion for acquiring land for the proposed oil city. Prices of land in Gwadar have gone up.
With the completion of Gwadar port, a special industrial development zone, about 30km off the port, will also be set up on 4,000 hectares.
The federal government has also provided Rs700 million to Balochistan to meet water demand of the Gwadar Industrial Estate (GIE) for 15 years by installing a foreign-assembled desalination plant.
The water demand will be met partly by recycling the waste water (irrigation and industrial cooling) and partly by the desalination plant as there is no water resource available in the area.
The Balochistan government has provided 3,000 acres of land, of which 20 acres will be made available for free through the GIE to set up water desalination plant, intake work, storage tanks and other facilities.
There will be approximately 2,000 industrial units in the GIE creating 30,000 jobs. Most of the production will be export-oriented.
Work on second phase of Gwadar port to begin by year-end -DAWN - Top Stories; October 26, 2007
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Work on second phase of Gwadar port to begin by year-end
ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: The second phase of Gwadar deep seaport construction is expected to be started before the year-end by the Singapore Port Authority (SPA) for which it is lining up new investment in the country.
"The government has taken a decision to allow the SPA to undertake the mighty second phase of the Gwadar Port preferably within this year," Director General of Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Ahmad Buksh Lehri told Dawn on Thursday.
He said that Phase-1 had cost $298 million and the SPA, the operator of the port which had been given a lease for a long period of time to run it efficiently, was currently working out its investment plan for the second phase.
The government, Mr Lehri said, had given to the SPA 16 acres of land which included a tax-free zone.
Answering a question, the GDA chief said that the SPA had successfully overcome initial problems and that the port was likely to be fully operational in December with three berths handling the ships. However, to handle big ships more berths would be required, he added.
He said that the SPA was being provided all the necessary equipment including cranes and buildings.
"New equipment, provided by the government, is also being installed by the SPA," Mr Lehri said.
In reply to a question, he said that there was no law and order problem in Gwadar. However, he said that the Coastal Highway, which was damaged by the recent floods, should be repaired on a priority basis.
More warehouses and other equipment were also needed to enhance country's foreign trade, he added.
Earlier, the Singapore-based operators were told to expedite the work especially after having received a 40-year tax holiday despite the concern expressed by other investors and the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The GDA director general said since the government had already been extending tax exemptions and tax holidays in various industrial and duty-free economic zones, the SPA was also offered a tax holiday.
He said export processing zones were also enjoying certain tax holidays and exemptions and there was nothing exceptional in the case of SPA, which was investing $550 million.
The Gwadar port located in Balochistan is being considered a future trading hub in the region because of being so close to the Gulf region.
Initially, it is expected to face competition from the Iranian port of Salalah, but after the completion of Phase-2 by 2010 at a cost of $840 million, it is likely to become one of the busiest ports in the region. It will provide warehousing, transhipment and industrial facilities for trade with over 20 countries including the Gulf countries, Iran, Central Asian states, India, China and East Africa.
The government has also planned some other concessions for the proposed Export Processing Zone (EPZ) to be located near the Gwadar port for local and foreign investors. There will be customs, sales tax and excise duty exemptions in the EPZ to promote substantial investment in Gwadar.
A number of foreign investors have shown interest in establishing mega refineries, building storage capacity and undertaking other businesses in Gwadar to help expedite the process of industrialisation in Balochistan.
Land for the new international airport has been acquired after giving due payments to the landowners. The government is said to have released about Rs4 billion for acquiring land for the proposed oil city. Prices of land in Gwadar have gone up.
With the completion of Gwadar port, a special industrial development zone, about 30km off the port, will also be set up on 4,000 hectares.
The federal government has also provided Rs700 million to Balochistan to meet water demand of the Gwadar Industrial Estate (GIE) for 15 years by installing a foreign-assembled desalination plant.
The water demand will be met partly by recycling the waste water (irrigation and industrial cooling) and partly by the desalination plant as there is no water resource available in the area.
The Balochistan government has provided 3,000 acres of land, of which 20 acres will be made available for free through the GIE to set up water desalination plant, intake work, storage tanks and other facilities.
There will be approximately 2,000 industrial units in the GIE creating 30,000 jobs. Most of the production will be export-oriented.-----------------
Work on second phase of Gwadar port to begin by year-end -DAWN - Top Stories; October 26, 2007
ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: The second phase of Gwadar deep seaport construction is expected to be started before the year-end by the Singapore Port Authority (SPA) for which it is lining up new investment in the country.
"The government has taken a decision to allow the SPA to undertake the mighty second phase of the Gwadar Port preferably within this year," Director General of Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Ahmad Buksh Lehri told Dawn on Thursday.
He said that Phase-1 had cost $298 million and the SPA, the operator of the port which had been given a lease for a long period of time to run it efficiently, was currently working out its investment plan for the second phase.
The government, Mr Lehri said, had given to the SPA 16 acres of land which included a tax-free zone.
Answering a question, the GDA chief said that the SPA had successfully overcome initial problems and that the port was likely to be fully operational in December with three berths handling the ships. However, to handle big ships more berths would be required, he added.
He said that the SPA was being provided all the necessary equipment including cranes and buildings.
"New equipment, provided by the government, is also being installed by the SPA," Mr Lehri said.
In reply to a question, he said that there was no law and order problem in Gwadar. However, he said that the Coastal Highway, which was damaged by the recent floods, should be repaired on a priority basis.
More warehouses and other equipment were also needed to enhance country's foreign trade, he added.
Earlier, the Singapore-based operators were told to expedite the work especially after having received a 40-year tax holiday despite the concern expressed by other investors and the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The GDA director general said since the government had already been extending tax exemptions and tax holidays in various industrial and duty-free economic zones, the SPA was also offered a tax holiday.
He said export processing zones were also enjoying certain tax holidays and exemptions and there was nothing exceptional in the case of SPA, which was investing $550 million.
The Gwadar port located in Balochistan is being considered a future trading hub in the region because of being so close to the Gulf region.
Initially, it is expected to face competition from the Iranian port of Salalah, but after the completion of Phase-2 by 2010 at a cost of $840 million, it is likely to become one of the busiest ports in the region. It will provide warehousing, transhipment and industrial facilities for trade with over 20 countries including the Gulf countries, Iran, Central Asian states, India, China and East Africa.
The government has also planned some other concessions for the proposed Export Processing Zone (EPZ) to be located near the Gwadar port for local and foreign investors. There will be customs, sales tax and excise duty exemptions in the EPZ to promote substantial investment in Gwadar.
A number of foreign investors have shown interest in establishing mega refineries, building storage capacity and undertaking other businesses in Gwadar to help expedite the process of industrialisation in Balochistan.
Land for the new international airport has been acquired after giving due payments to the landowners. The government is said to have released about Rs4 billion for acquiring land for the proposed oil city. Prices of land in Gwadar have gone up.
With the completion of Gwadar port, a special industrial development zone, about 30km off the port, will also be set up on 4,000 hectares.
The federal government has also provided Rs700 million to Balochistan to meet water demand of the Gwadar Industrial Estate (GIE) for 15 years by installing a foreign-assembled desalination plant.
The water demand will be met partly by recycling the waste water (irrigation and industrial cooling) and partly by the desalination plant as there is no water resource available in the area.
The Balochistan government has provided 3,000 acres of land, of which 20 acres will be made available for free through the GIE to set up water desalination plant, intake work, storage tanks and other facilities.
There will be approximately 2,000 industrial units in the GIE creating 30,000 jobs. Most of the production will be export-oriented.-----------------
Work on second phase of Gwadar port to begin by year-end -DAWN - Top Stories; October 26, 2007
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Sorry dear i just clicked last page 
and posted ok im gonna post something more tomorrow
my appology its 2pm at night here in Peshawar and indeed you can imagaine
and posted ok im gonna post something more tomorrow my appology its 2pm at night here in Peshawar and indeed you can imagaine
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