Gwadar - A Jewel in the Crown

[ajpirzada]

First vessel carrying urea offloaded in Gawadar
QUETTA, Dec 21 (APP)‑ Federal Minister for Port and Shipping Nabil Ahmed Gabol has lauded the efforts of Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani for making Gwadar seaport functional.
Addressing as chief guest at ceremony of the offloading of first vessel carrying 30,000 tons urea imported from Qatar held in Gwadar on Sunday, the Minister said that the people of Balochistan must be proud of their CM who stood with his cardinal principle for getting rights of Balochistan.
He said that the CM’s steps were commendable for presenting sentments of people of Balochistan before the President and the PM legitimately and got accepted the demands regarding the Gwadar port.
He said that the credit of Gwadar port making functional goes to Nawab Aslam Raisani who made sincere efforts for the purpose.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Nawab Aslam Raisani said that Gwadar port was asset of Balochistan and we would neither allow anyone to occupy our resources nor allow converting Baloch into minority.
He said that the agreement concluded with a Singapore company would be reviewed and subsequently the agreement would be amended if found necessary. “The agreement favours Balochistan and its people. We want an agreement which promotes and protects interests of Balochistan,” he added.
He said that all federating units must get their provincial rights in the light of Lahore Resolutoin‑1940. “Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto was the only politician who could maintain the federating units intact, but now she is no more among us and it is the responsibility of the incumbent federal government to keep intact and strengthen the federating units by granting rights of the provinces in the light of the resolution‑1940,” he said.
He directed the Gawadar Port Authority (GPA) officials to provide job opportunities to local unemployed youths.

The CM expressed his anger and dissatisfaction over non‑local labourers offloading the urea from the vessel and directed the concerned officials to provide such jobs to local youths.
He said that his government had made efforts for making the port functional in order to give fruits to the local people and directed the MPA from Gawadar to vigil that jobs should be provided to the local people in the port city. Adding, if we could not benefit the local people by making functional the mega project then it would be useless.
He said that his government was taking initiatives for granting control to the local people over their resources and granting their rights in the province.
The CM thanked the President, PM and Nabil Gabol for taking personal interests for making the sea port functional.

He said that Gawadar deep seaport had not only regional significance, but it had international importance in view of its geo‑strategic location.

He said that development of the area would continue and he himself would supervise the overall progress of the coastal areas of the province.

Chairman GPA admiral (retd) Ehsan Saeed and representative of Singapore company Khurram Abbas also spoke on the occasion.

Balochistan Ministers Younas Mullazai, Asim Kurd Gailu and Hammal Kalmati, district nazim Gawadar Abdul Ghafoor Kalmati, district coordination officer‑DCO Gawadar Noor‑ul‑Amin Mengal and other senior officials were also present at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, an official handout of the provincial DPR issued here Sunday night quoting GPA said that 11 more vessels would be anchored off in Gawadar port by December 31, 2008 which would increase economic and trade activities in coastal areas including Gawadar and on coastal highway in the province.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )

 

[ajpirzada]

FPCCI demands to allow traders for import, export from Gawadar port
QUETTA, Dec 21 (APP)‑ The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has welcomed making Gawadar port functional by berthing of the first vessel in Gawadar port and demanded of the government to allow traders for import and export in order to make the port a success.
The demand was made by vice chairman FPCCI Nasibullah Tareen while talking to APP here on Sunday. He lauded the efforts of Balochistan chief minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani for taking initiatives for making the port functional and demanded of him to allow the traders for import and export in order to make his efforts fruitful.
He deplored that Trade Corporation of Pakistan had contracted the unloading of urea imported from Qatar with a foreign company which deprived the local labourers. Adding, the transportation of the urea was to be contracted with NLC which would deprive local transporters.
He said that making Gawadar port functional in real sense would not only revolutionize the economy of Balochistan, but it would also revolutionize the economy of the country.
He said that functioning of the port would generate employment opportunities to jobless youths of Balochistan and increase the economic activities in the province.
He expressed the hope that the government would take steps for bolstering the Gawadar port in consultation with traders’ community of the country.
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option...5&Itemid=49


wat else do we need... if they are asking for it themselves thats a great thing. gov should not waste time in granting permission...

 

[ajpirzada]

congrats to everyone ......
its a great news for pakistan and espacially for balochistan

 

[fatman17]

Editorial: Gwadar’s strategic aspects are still relevant

The inauguration of Gwadar as a fully functioning sea port at a time when the national economy is in the process of contraction has dampened its importance as proved by the fact that the prime minister didn’t turn up for the opening ceremony on Sunday “because he had more important work to do”. But two ships from Qatar carrying fertiliser are almost docked and 21 more are expected in the coming quarter. And no one can deny its future significance as a part of Pakistan’s geopolitical strategy.

The chief minister of Balochistan, Nawab Aslam Raisani, put on notice the first “objection” to the port’s management in his speech and reminded us of the past decades of bickering over the project. He said Gwadar was on the land of Balochistan and its economic aspects must benefit the Baloch above everyone else. This was in answer to the federal ports minister, Mr Nabil Gabol, who said the new port will “generate massive economic activities in the region”. The chief minister didn’t like the fact that labour in Gwadar was being “imported” from other provinces. He swore he would not allow the Baloch “majority” of Gwadar to be converted into a “minority”. And he referred to the Lahore Resolution of 1940 which had envisaged the provinces as “sovereign” entities.

When the construction of Gwadar began in 2002, objections to it were galore: that it was redundant because the existing ports had enough handling capacity for the next 20 years; that Gwadar was next to nowhere and without water and electricity and would need the construction of a coastal highway 600 km long. More “strategic” trouble came Pakistan’s way when China agreed to provide only $198 million of the $298 million needed for Phase One. Phase Two was estimated at $600 million.

The world, and the not too-happy neighbours, began to concentrate on other details: Gwadar would provide a stable and proximate point of access to the other Gulf ports and it would be just 250 miles from the Straits of Hormuz, through which nearly 40 percent of the world’s oil supplies flow; the port would be strategically located to serve as a key shipping point in the region; it would also provide the landlocked Central Asian republics, Afghanistan, and the Chinese Xinjiang region, with access to the Arabian Sea’s warm waters, etc.

The port was delayed for a number of reasons. It was supposed to open in 2005 and has come on line after three years of glitches and after the Baloch rebels had killed engineers there and generally rejected it. India, still posturing aggressively in the aftermath of the 2001 military face-off with Pakistan, said it was “carefully monitoring” the port and Chinese activity on the Makran coast together with Chinese activity on the Myanmar coast. Iran and America were also supposed to be “offended” by the idea of Gwadar serving as a Chinese “foot in the door” in a region they considered their strategic backyard. The Iran-Indian partnership had taken off and India was helping build Iran’s Chabahar port which they thought might be rivalled and eclipsed by Gwadar. But regional alignments have changed significantly since 2002 when the port aroused the hostile imagination of strategists around the world. Today the world is in a downward economic spiral and neighbours are busy tackling other problems of greater importance.

The Iran-India relationship has cooled as India has decided to move closer to America with a nuclear deal — the US Hyde Act requires “India’s cooperation against Iran” — and Iran has retaliated by revising upwards the price of its LNG exports to India after having signed on a price agreement. (Iran has since gone back on the price of the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline gas too.) Gwadar had once also jeopardised the Iran-China equation that was motivated by a desire to oppose US “hegemony” at the global level, giving an opportunity to China to “forward buy” Iranian gasfields. But today that scenario too has changed as China moves to the centre of America’s attention as an important “indirect” supporter of the Iraq war. The Chinese-Indian equation too is no longer hostile, thanks to the growing volume of bilateral trade and China’s decision not to veto sanctions against Pakistan after the Mumbai attack last month.

Gwadar is not any more “strategy-neutral” than it was in 2002. Indeed, it can be everybody’s point of access to Central Asia and China’s western provinces. As a part of SAARC, Afghanistan needs a better trade outreach inside South Asia and Gwadar could be become an important conduit after Pakistan removes its mental cobwebs and decides to allow the trade routes that will bestow on it the geopolitical importance it doesn’t have now. That requires Pakistan to shift from the geo-”military” to the geo-”economic” way of thinking about itself. It is only after that that the world will come to its help in getting rid of its “non-state actors” and in becoming a great trading nation ordained by its physical positioning in the region. *

 

[ajpirzada]

does anyone know how true is this????? i got this news from another forum which didnt give any link

i dont know how to resize this pic so can anyone please do it for me
regards

 

[Neo]

Yes, the report is correct. We covered the news in Pakistan Economy thread.

 

[Neo]

No dredging at Gwadar Port since its construction ​

KARACHI (December 26 2008): The government, which has persistently been pressing for full operationality of Gwadar Port, has not carried out maintenance dredging at the deep-sea port since its construction early 2006. According to well-placed sources a sizeable siltation, ranging from 0.6 to 0.7 meter, has reduced draft in the 4.8-kilometer-long navigational channel of the newly constructed port at different points.

They said the 14.1-meter outer and 13.8-meter inner channel of Gwadar Port, which was fast clogging up with huge inflows of silt every year, was in dire need for maintenance dredging. In this regard, the sources said, Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) had floated tenders twice, one last year and the second one this year.

Siltation at the 13.8-meter-deep turning basin and the 14.5-meter-deep pocket area was making the Balochistan based deep-sea port unusable for the deeper-draft mother vessels, which as per transshipment vision of Islamabad, would soon be arriving at Gwadar, they added. The sources claimed that GPA had to cancel last year's tender under pressure.

They said the Authority had again floated a tender and was evaluating documents filed by the national and international dredging companies. They said siltation had reduced the draft at "alongside" to 12.5 meter last year, when M/v PS Glory, the first deep-draft ship carrying over 70,000 tonnes of wheat, was due at Gwadar Port. GPA had to rush to Karachi Port Trust for its dredgers for clearing the channel, said the sources. According to the sources maintenance dredging on yearly basis was required at Gwadar Port to avoid problems.

 

[UnitedPak]

Gwadar: A critical strategic asset

Dr Ali Mohammad

After a long spell of bad news, the country welcomes the official opening of Gwadar port on December 21, 2008. Gwadar is one of the most important projects in the country. Situated on the helm of the Indian Ocean, it can control strategic supplies to and from the region. Moreover, the Indian Ocean is destined to be an important theatre for action during the next several decades as the major powers’ supply lines for energy and trade run through here. It is no accident that all nuclear powers send their submarines to patrol the Indian Ocean. From economic viewpoint, it is expected that increased trade activities at Gwadar port would increase business activities in Balochistan and would create job openings in many sectors. It is expected to become a hub of economic activity for the country and for the region.

Gwadar is situated on the coastal line of Makran, which extends in an east-west direction with a total length of over 600 km. The known history of Makran starts some three thousand years from the time of prophet Dawood (AS). The region was also under the reign of many powers – from Alexander the Great to Arabs Muslims, the Mughals, the Safavids, the British, the Buledais, and the Gichkis. In the late the eighteenth century, the Khans of Kalat transferred Gwadar to Muscat in perpetuity. Due to the great dedication of the Government of Pakistan, Gwadar was reverted back from Muscat to Pakistan in 1958. In 1977, Gwadar became one of the three districts of the Makran Division. Although in 1961 the government of Pakistan had realized Gwadar as a potential port, it was not until 2002 that the Gwadar Port Project was initiated.

In addition to security reasons, the other major objectives of this project were: (1) diversification of shipping potentials, (2) development of major industrial complexes, and (3) integration of this area with the rest of the country and our Northern neighbors, China, and the Central Asian Republics (CARs). Gwadar has great significance for Pakistan, China, Iran, and India. Firstly, for Pakistan, Gwadar has immense strategic potentials. The planned Gwadar naval base, along with the Jinnah naval base at Ormara, will serve as alternatives to the naval facilities at Karachi. In times of war, the facilities at Gwadar and Ormara prevent the risk of being blockaded by India as was witnessed in 1971. Moreover, when Gwadar port is fully developed, it will be the key shipping and mass trade venue to the CARs and China. Also, significant attention to transportation and communication projects in the country has a direct impact on local, regional, and national development. This project is expected to help develop many remote areas of Balochistan and integrate these areas with the rest of the country. More recently, the realization of a traffic glut at ports in the Persian Gulf has made it more imperative that Pakistan plays a useful role in facilitating the smooth flow of trade between the Gulf countries and the rest of the world. Its proximity to the Persian Gulf and its continued instability, and the emergence of the new CARs has given Gwadar an immense geo-strategic importance. As for the Chinese interests, Gwadar will provide it access to the blue Waters and along with the so called “String of Pearls” — Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and the South China Sea — will meet China’s defense and energy needs.

From the start of this mega project, Pakistan received generous assistance from China, which assisted in the completion of the first phase of the Gwadar deep-sea port in 2004. China is also looking forward to developing an energy corridor including oil and gas development, oil refineries, petrochemical plants, and associated storage facilities. To fulfill these objectives, she is assisting Pakistan develop strategic facilities at Gwadar port. China has recently allocated some fifty billion dollars under the vision Trade and Energy Corridor for construction of a Railway Line from Gwadar to Kashgar, road network, fiber optics, and gas and oil facilities. Gwadar is also significant to Iranian and Indian interests in the area. Iran is developing its Chahbahar port. India is helping Iran in building this port and over a 200-kilometer long road to connect Chahbahar with Afghanistan. India is eyeing this Iranian port as its own shortest route to Central Asian markets. India also perceives her involvement in Chahbahar to be a counter balance to Chinese influence in Gwadar and the region. Thus, for Pakistan, certainly history is in the making. Gwadar is set to become a hub of shipping, commercial and industrial activities. It is destined to be the most important upcoming coastal town located in proximity to the three most strategically and economically important regions of the world — the oil rich Middle east, the region where over 2.5 billion people live, and the CARs which are bestowed with abundant natural resources. The port also comes as a much-needed national requirement in the wake of the rise in cargo traffic at Karachi port, while the overall maritime traffic for Pakistan is expected to rise by 300 % by 2010.

Gwadar Pakistan’s largest infrastructure project where billions of dollars have already been invested and much more is in the pipeline for roads, railroads, a new international airport, power plants, a water desalination plant, and real estate development.

Gwadar is truly a gift to Pakistan and the world. It is now up to the present government to ensure the continuity of this very important project. However, we would like to warn the government of a few problems that have constrained Gwadar’s timely development. Firstly, there have been serious delays in the development of the port (the first phase was completed in seventy-two months as against an initial plan of one-half that time). Every effort must be made to ensure timely completion of projects as every delay costs the country billions of dollars. Secondly, the Pakistan Government must be cognizant of Indian and American games, which include playing on the sentiments of Balochi nationalism. Some Balochi people may be alienated and may be thinking that they have been left out of the benefits of their assets, but it is a problem that Pakistan can handle. It is hoped that the political leadership will make every effort to pacify feelings of alienation among Balochi people and make them feel that they are full partners in the development activities and receive full benefits such as job and income opportunities of this mega project. Thirdly, many people have shied away from investment in real estate and business ventures as the news of fraud and cheating have surfaced over the last ten years. This has not only cost huge losses to investors, but has also discouraged many more who could have brought a lot of investment in the area in commerce, agriculture, and industry. We welcome recent steps by the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) such as cancellation of permits of many illegal outfits and controlling issuance of NOCs. Similarly, development of economic and social infrastructure — marketing infrastructure, financial institutions, licensing facilities, and social services – should be ensured to encourage potential investors.

Lastly, at a time when successive governments postponed or cancelled previous government projects due to their selfish interests, we have seen examples where governments sometimes rise above such selfishness and forge ahead with projects of national interest. The nation is grateful that all the successive governments who supported the country’s nuclear and missile programs have enabled Pakistan to develop an effective deterrent against outside aggression. In a similar vein, the present government must recognize Gwadar’s geo-economic imperatives and it must be cognizant of serious opposition from some quarters who were never our real friends of Pakistan.

We urge the successive governments to continue to develop this critical national asset and implement all development schemes for the country with full commitment. Let us hope that Gwadar fulfills the dream of economic glory for the country.

Pakistan Observer - Newspaper online edition - Article

 

[Pk_Thunder]

Gwadar assigned to handle TCP consignments ​

ISLAMABAD, Dec 27 (APP):The ships carrying consignments of Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) viz wheat and fertilizers would now only be anchored at Gwadar Port for onward distribution to rest of the country.

Director General Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Ghulam Mohiuddin Marri told CNBC Channel that TCP ships would now be diverted to Gwadar.

The government has also approved a plan to utilise Gwadar Port for future export of cement,however traders are reluctant as road network connecting Gwadar with rest of the country is not completed as yet.At the moment travelling expenditures are high as compared to Karachi Ports.

At present three berths of Gwadar Port has been made operational.

Demanding immediate repeal of agreement with Port of Singapur, which was earlier authorised to operate the Gwadar Port,he said the aforementioned company has miserably failed to effectively operate the newly inaugurated port.

Gwadar Port could not progress under the supervision of Port of Singapur.A new vibrant company should be assigned the task to operate the Gwadar Port, he added.

 

[UnitedPak]

Road network connecting Gwadar with neighbours scheduled to be completed within next year

ISLAMABAD, Dec 28 (APP): Trade activities are likely to gear up in Gwadar from mid next year as most of the road network projects, conceived to provide economical connectivity to China, Afghanistan, Central Asian States and Iran would start functioning within a period of next 6 to 12 months.

General Manager (Construction) National Highway Authority (NHA) Pervaiz Ahmed Sulehri told CNBC, channel that coastal highway, connecting Gwadar with Karachi, would be extended and linked with N-55 - thus ensuring easy inter linking of Karachi-Gwadar-Khuzdar-Quetta-Shahdadkot-Lodhran and Faisalabad as Lodhran would be linked with M-4.

And, he continued, M-4 would be linked from Faisalabad to Khanewal and Multan.Later on it will connect Khanewal with Lodhran. From Lodhran it would become part of National trade corridor - linking with N-55.

Yet another important network, M-8 being built from Gwadar to Shahdadkot would be connected with N-55 from Khuzdar to Shahdadkot,he said.

Work is continuing on M-8 being built to connect Gwadar with rest of the country.There are two sections of M-8 - 250 km long first section starts from Gwadar and culminate at Hoshab while touching Turbat - this section is scheduled to be completed by mid 2009.

Second portion of M-8 consists of Hoshab-Khuzdar-Shahdadkot.

It would be completed by 2009 end.

Also - 410 km N-85 will connect Taftan through Hoshab, Punjgoor, Bisma and Quetta. It is set to be completed by end 2010.

A three years expansion project of Karakoram Highway continues with renowned vigour. A 335 km long stretch is being expanded from Raikot to Khunjrab. The project is being implemented in collaboration with China, he said.

The share of NHA is 12,000 km long highways and motorways - out of a total of 250,000 km long roads stretched across the country, he added.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )

 

[maximus]

Gwadar assigned to handle TCP consignments ​

ISLAMABAD, Dec 27 (APP):The ships carrying consignments of Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) viz wheat and fertilizers would now only be anchored at Gwadar Port for onward distribution to rest of the country.

Director General Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Ghulam Mohiuddin Marri told CNBC Channel that TCP ships would now be diverted to Gwadar.

The government has also approved a plan to utilise Gwadar Port for future export of cement,however traders are reluctant as road network connecting Gwadar with rest of the country is not completed as yet.At the moment travelling expenditures are high as compared to Karachi Ports.

At present three berths of Gwadar Port has been made operational.

Demanding immediate repeal of agreement with Port of Singapur, which was earlier authorised to operate the Gwadar Port,he said the aforementioned company has miserably failed to effectively operate the newly inaugurated port.

Gwadar Port could not progress under the supervision of Port of Singapur.A new vibrant company should be assigned the task to operate the Gwadar Port, he added.

Shame on those politicians that opposed the Chinese company from operating the Gwadar port. What a waste of resources... On a different note, PSAI is a renowned port operator with a global reputation. Unprofessional mismanagement and corruption are the most likely factors for the failures. It's hard to believe how the authorities in charge can screw up such a promising project.

 

[Omar1984]

Raisani says Gwadar port belongs to Baloch

QUETTA: The Gwadar Port belongs to the Baloch people and no one would be allowed to sell it to anti-Baloch forces, Chief Minister Muhammad Aslam Raisani said on Sunday.

He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the $298 million-Gwadar Port that was also attended by Minister of State for Ports and Shipping Nabeel Gabol and several senior officials of the federal and provincial governments.

Operations: Raisani’s inauguration formally launched operations at the port, which was constructed with Chinese financial and technical assistance.

The port was earlier inaugurated by former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, but no shipping activity has been witnessed at the facility ever since. On Saturday, a vessel called Lauritzen Bulker carrying 30,000 tonnes of urea docked at the port. Three more ships will arrive this week.

Raisani said the unjust policies of the past against Balochistan needed to be abandoned and no one would be allowed to deprive the province of its resources.

Criticism: The chief minister criticised the former government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) for ‘compromising’ Baloch interests by handing the port’s operation to the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) without consulting elected representatives of the province.

“Balochistan has been a victim of unjust and unfair policies of successive governments for the past 60 years. These policies should be instantly abandoned. The Baloch are not hopeless people that everyone could come and loot their resources. We want equal treatment for all federating units,” he said, adding that the Gwadar Port was purely an asset of the Baloch people.

He called for the Centre’s consistent attention for the development of the Gwadar Port, adding the dream of a developed Pakistan was unlikely until Islamabad ensured Balochistan’s economic development.

The minister of state for ports and shipping said there was a possibility of cancellation of the agreement signed between PSA and the previous government.

“The agreement signed by the previous government with the PSA is defective and we have our reservations about it,” Gabol said. “Therefore, the agreement might be cancelled in the future.”

Gabol said the Pakistan People’s Party would ensure that justice is done to the Baloch people under its government.

He said the 86 people working at the port would be made regular employees and the local Baloch people would be given a priority for jobs in future.

The port has been a cause of constant political turmoil in Balochistan for the past eight years. Baloch nationalists fear the local population would be turned into a minority once the foreign influx starts after the port’s operations begin. The Baloch also demand a majority share in employment opportunities and operations of the port.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

They're crazy when did Baloch tribes work on Gwadar Port, its Pakistanis from all ethnic groups who worked hard on Gwadar Port. Balochs should get out of this obsession over ethnic groups, we all are Pakistanis the sooner we realize that the sooner our nation and all our provinces becomes a success

 

[Neo]

PSAA for effective marketing of Gwadar Port by PSA​

KARACHI (December 30 2008): Pakistan Ship's Agents Association (PSAA) is pleased to learn about activation of Gwadar Port on 21st December with arrival of the first of several urea vessels. So far the port has seen cargoes diverted by government entities with attendant subsidies, a PSAA statement said on Monday.

It said Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) needs to actively market the port as envisioned in the Concession Agreement. If there are any impediments in this regard, both sides need to sit down and discuss/resolve the same, it added. The PSAA urging the government to complete the Ratodero link road, which will connect Gwadar to the national highway, said training facilities should be established to ensure local availability of required skilled labour.

Proposing a trigger industry eg oil refinery, cement factory, shipyard, etc should be established to boost the port's cargo throughput, PSAA demanded that facilities for ancillary industries eg ship's agents, stevedores, ship repairers, survey firms, etc should be established and provided on easy terms. Gwadar airport should be completed as soon as possible, it added.

 

[Neo]

Iran to give $55m for construction of transmission line at Gwadar​

ISLAMABAD: A high level delegation of Iran headed by Iranian Minister for Energy Parvaiz Fattah on Monday informed that Iran would provide $55 million for construction of transmission line of 70 kilometres in Pakistan.

The Iranian delegation held a meeting in the Ministry of Water and Power and discussed bilateral co-operation on existing power sector projects related to import of electricity from Iran and future investment prospects in the power sector of Pakistan.

Pakistan was currently importing 40 MW from Iran for coastal areas of Balochisan. The import of power was being enhanced by additional 100 MW for Gwadar port for which an agreement had already been signed. It was informed that M/s SUNIR of Iran would construct the transmission line on both sides of the border for which negotiations on award of contract were in progress. Export Development Bank of Iran would be extending credit of $55 million to NTDC/PEPCO for construction of transmission line.

The balance 50 km on the Iranian side would be constructed by Iran. In addition to the above, consultants have been engaged to carry out the feasibility study for import of additional 1,000 MW from Iran for which an MoU had already been signed. Both sides expressed keen interest to accelerate progress on these projects.

The Iranian delegation was briefed by the Ministry of Water and Power authorities on the current power situation, short, medium and long-term measures being taken by the Pakistan to bridge the gap between demand and supply, future plans to inject more electricity in the national grid to end the energy crisis and the potential projects being offered to the investors in the coal, hydro and renewable energy sectors. The salient features of the power policy and liberal incentives for private investors were also highlighted in the briefing.

The Iranian minister while stressing the need for enhancing bilateral co-operation, offered supply of more power from Iran. He offered to export electricity from its port at Chabahar, which was nearest to Gwadar port where a power plant of 500 MW was being constructed by Iran and would be ready within the next six months.

He said that Iran was already supplying power to Syria, Tajikistan, Iraq etc and was also keen to export the required electricity to Pakistan. Iran had also expressed its interest to build a dedicated 1,000 MW Gas Power Plant at Zahidan near Pakistan border for export of power to Pakistan.

The Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said that Pakistan would welcome such an initiative and should extend full co-operation and workout the modalities. The minister also stated that Pakistan was interested to purchase more power transformers of various capacities from Iran with speedy delivery.

 

[Pk_Thunder]

Gwadar seaport to enhance trade ties with regional countries: PM ​

ISLAMABAD, Dec 31 (APP): Prime Minster Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said the development projects initiated by the government would bring rapid socio economic development of the people of Balochistan. He said that the recent opening of Gwadar port would play a significant role in enhancing the economic, trade and commercial ties with the regional countries besides generating job opportunities for the people of the province. The Prime Minister was talking to Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani, who called on him here at the PM House.

The Prime Minister said that the setting up of duty free area at Gwadar would further enhance large scale business activity and would also attract foreign direct investment.

He said the federal government would allocate funds required for the infrastructure projects in Balochistan.

The Chief Minister said that efforts would be made to explore the untapped hydrocarbon and mineral deposits in the province at a fast pace to meet the growing energy needs of the country.

He also informed the Prime Minister about the on‑going socio‑economic development activities being undertaken by the government in Balochistan.