Gwadar Port, economic corridor tops PM’s agenda on China trip

[Devil Soul]

BEIJING - Ahead of his first foreign trip after assuming office, Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif said clinching the proposed economic corridor linking the strategic Gwadar Port with China's Xinjiang province would top his agenda in Beijing. Sharif said the new economic corridor, which will connect the resource-rich western region with Gwadar port, has the potential to "change the fate" of the region. "The economic corridor taking off from Kashgar in Xinjiang to Gwadar is a game changer as far as this region is concerned," the premier said ahead of his visit. "We expect the corridor will become a very important economic hub," he added. The proposed corridor will also pass through Azad Kashmir. Sharif's six-day visit beginning from July 4 coincides with the tour of Indian Defence Minister AK Antony to China, bringing the India-Pakistan-China diplomatic triangle into focus. Chinese analysts said China maintained a "strategic equilibrium" between India and Pakistan. Sharif's tour will be a follow up visit to Chinese premier Li Keqiang's trip to Islamabad last month.

Keqiang came to Pakistan after his India visit, during which he proposed the economic corridor project. China and Pakistan signed 11 agreements in the time he was in Islamabad.

The corridor which consisted of a series of special economic zones, a rail link and a pipeline providing China access to the Indian Ocean topped the list of agreements. Sharif said during his visit he would seek bilateral cooperation in “every field,” especially energy and infrastructure.

“We are investing in each other's countries. This is the time for both countries to move forward at a faster speed,” he said.

A Pakistani task force held talks with the National Development and Reform Commission on the scheme early this week, said reports.

The operation of the Gwadar port, located near the Strait of Hormuz, was handed to the China Overseas Port Holding Company last year after the Singapore firm, which secured the contract, gave up due to a host of operational problems and questions over its economic viability.

The Strait of Hormuz has strategic importance since roughly 40 percent of all world-traded oil pass through this route. - See more at: Gwadar Port, economic corridor tops PM

 

[jamesseo89]

Really GoP needs some plans like Privatizing PIA, Railways and PNSC to reduce the money they used to feed and get some money out of them to Pay $1 Billion to Chinese so that they stop claiming Gwadar port quipments also they should have to build 2 Naval bases there like in South East and in South West eac having an Advance Ship Yard with 3 to 5 dry docks that can hold supper carriers, tanker, cargo and container vessels which we can maintain or build in order to earn money as well as can be used to develop our own equipments as well.

INSHA ALLAH, if we Pray and beg infront of ALLAH than even better will happen. Ameen.

 

[Argus Panoptes]

"The economic corridor taking off from Kashgar in Xinjiang to Gwadar is a game changer as far as this region is concerned," the premier said ahead of his visit. "We expect the corridor will become a very important economic hub," he added.

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/econom...ops-pm-s-agenda-china-trip.html#ixzz2XsYCLwLn

Game Changer? Economic Hub? Not a chance.

Just because we will have a port that finally works does not mean that somehow transport of goods across the Karakorums will become feasible or even possible.