Top priority: PM calls for completion of Gwadar port extension project

[faisal6309]

Top priority: PM calls for completion of Gwadar port extension project

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday stressed that the Gwadar port extension project should be given priority in order to boost economic activity in the country, Radio Pakistan reported.

The premier was chairing a federal cabinet meeting during which he also announced that projects worth $1.6 billion would be undertaken in Balochistan.

Along with these development projects, he also emphasised the need to improve health and education services in the province.

Establishing peace in Balochistan is a priority of the government, he said, noting that security concerns can impede economic activity and socio-economic development.

 

[Pakistanisage]

Pak-China Economic corridor : Chines Team to visit by the end of April......


ISLAMABAD:
A high-level Chinese technical team will visit Gwadar by the end of this month to examine the deep seaport and infrastructure sites for the proposed Pakistan-China Economic Corridor.

This is for the first time top Chinese experts will examine the proposed roads and rail tracks for the economic corridor from Gwadar port, in Balochistan, to Kashgar, in China.

“We will arrange meetings and physical visits of the Chinese technical team at the port and infrastructure sites to examine technical feasibilities of infrastructure,” said Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) Chairman Dostain Khan Jamaldini.

This visit will be followed by another by officials of Chinese financial institutions – including China’s Exim Bank, the chief financier of the mega project – to set modalities for provision of funds to execute the project, he added. He said the technical team might give some suggestions for further improvement in infrastructure.

Pakistan has also asked the Chinese company – responsible for operating the Gwadar port – to submit the masterplan of a free trade zone along with a comprehensive business and marketing plan for the port to get a formal approval, which will pave way for starting businesses at the free trade zone of the port.

Under the short-term plan, the two countries want to develop the Gwadar port, whose control has already been given to China, in a bid to attract investment in different sectors to make it a hub of economic activity, especially for regional countries.

Some Chinese businessmen and investors have already visited Pakistan to explore trade opportunities in the free trade zone as well as in the proposed economic corridor.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2014.

 

[Kompromat]

@VCheng

Any comments?

 

[VCheng]

@VCheng

Any comments?

It is interesting to note that "this is for the first time top Chinese experts will examine the proposed roads and rail tracks for the economic corridor from Gwadar port, in Balochistan, to Kashgar, in China" which implies that all the pretty maps and tall claims were one-sided until now. The next step will be determining feasibility and cost, the real meat and potatoes of the project. Let us see what comes out of this round.

@Aeronaut It will be nice if we can get some information about the proposed rail track and oil pipeline through Khunjerab Pass and just how feasible they are considered by the Chinese Experts.

 

[tarrar]

This is good news but a lot needs to be done.