WB asks Pakistan to upgrade infrastructure

[Neo]

WB asks Pakistan to upgrade infrastructure ​

* Report says 6,000MW power shortage expected by 2010
* Expert says fundamentals of economy still strong​

By Khalid Hasan

WASHINGTON: A report by the World Bank last month points out that Pakistan suffers from a dearth of infrastructure in the water, irrigation, power, and transport sectors and needs to invest around $1 billion per year in reservoirs and related infrastructure over the next five years.

In the energy sector, the country will face severe power shortages of around 6,000 megawatts by 2010. Similarly, inefficiencies in the transport sector cost the economy between 4-5 percent of GDP each year.

To overcome these constraints, Pakistan has tripled its annual infrastructure investment from an average of $2.5 billion to $7.3 billion, but increased involvement of the private sector will be needed to meet the gaps.

According to Dinar Standard, an online business strategy publication devoted to business in the Muslim world, “Overall, the horizon for prosperity and growth seems lustrous for Pakistan.

The general sentiment is undimmed and is driving the masses to believe that change for a better economy and a better future is within their sight. Despite being considered a politically unstable terrain, Pakistan as an economy still has a lot to offer and is rightfully called by Mark Matthews of Merrill Lynch as ‘the greatest information-arbitrage opportunity in the world’.”

Fundamentals: Monis Rehman, a Pakistani entrepreneur, is quoted as saying that there has been recent cash infusion from Silicon Valley investors. Speaking to Dinar Standard he said, “Investments continue to happen because the fundamentals are strong. Pakistan has a population of 160 million consumers. Seventy million of them now have mobile phones. Over $1 billion has been invested in broadband and WiMAX infrastructure.

While there is a lot to be concerned about, there is also a lot to look forward to.” Commenting on the viability of its new media venture in Pakistan, he said, “Pakistan has a rapidly growing 7.5 percent Internet penetration rate compared to India’s 4.5 percent. None of the top 10 sites viewed from within Pakistan are local, which suggests a huge opportunity for creating local content. Online advertising is also at its infancy and with the current market dynamics, is poised for strong growth.”

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Neo]

Gwadar port: government asked to give top priority to uplift of road network ​

ISLAMABAD (March 11 2008): The Senate body on Shipping and Ports has asked the government to accord highest priority to the development of road networks at Gwadar port. The meeting was held in the Parliament building on Monday, with Gulshan Saeed in the chair.

It may be mentioned here that a report published in the Monday issue of Business Recorder suggested that with the development of communication facilities, Gwadar would become economic and communication hub in this region.

Pakistan desired to develop Gwadar as a port city because of its strategic position athwart the tip of Hurmuz straits and Persian Gulf. Gwadar has profound maritime importance as a full-fledged deep water to provide alternate routes to the Gulf ports as well as vital link to China and Central Asian Republics (CAR).

Reacting sharply to delays in construction of three road networks, linking Gwadar port with Turbat, Pangjur, Basima, Ratodero, Surab, Kalat, Mastung and Quetta, as well as main RCD Highway, the Committee wished speedy completion of the roads which constituted important plank in the development of Gwadar port as major economic hub and to facilitate exports in the region. The three road systems were yet to be completed and remained on the planning board. It said. The committee reviewed the difficulty in Gwadar becoming operational because it lacked good quality, all-weather dependable road linkages.

In his briefing, the National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman explained the value of road connectivity for transit trade between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asian Republics and China. He named the three road linkages as Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab-Panjgur-Nag-Basima-Surab (N-85): This road linked Gwadar to N-25 RCD Highway at Surab. The NHA has awarded contract for upgradation of this federalised road to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).

Basima-Khuzdar-Ratodero: This road will connect Gwadar to N-85 & N-25- RCD Highway at Khuzdar and N-55 Indus Highway at Ratodero. Basima-Surab-Kalat-Mastung-Quetta-Chamman: The road linked Gwadar to Quetta and Chaman through N-25 RCD Highway.

The Committee desired the NHA to plan construction of roads in a way that it could withstand floods, especially flash floods. In addition, the committee desired the government to make provision of fresh drinking water and also link Gwadar with the national electricity grid, an important consideration for the port to emerge as economic hub.

The Senate Committee also received presentation on development of Rs 100 billion Gwadar-Quetta rail-link project and took a strong exception to Balochistan government violating the Federal government ban on sale of state lands.

The prized land, owned by Railways, was allegedly sold to private housing societies by a few unscrupulous elements in the provincial administration at throwaway prices. The housing societies, to whom the land was sold, were now demanding millions of rupees for construction of container yards from the railways department.

The Senate Committee has summoned the provincial land revenue officials along with the relevant records in the next meeting. The committee also decided to set-up a three-member sub-committee to sort out issues of land acquisition and its security, in view of inhospitable terrain. This body would liaise with National Highway Authority and the dwellers.

Dr Abdul Malik was asked to head the committee with Dr Ismail Buledi and Mir Israrullah Khan as members. Lieutenant General Javed Ashraf (retd), Mir Israrullah Khan, Dr Muhammad Ismail Buledi, Saadia Abbasi, Kalsoom Parveen and Dr Abdul Malik attended the Committee.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[khanz]

it's good to see much work going into gwadar it annoys me when i see all the development and infrastructure projects going into just karachi,lahore and islamabad places like quetta an peshawar need a serious facelift .