Daily Times

Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar on Tuesday underscored that Gwadar will be transformed into a developed and smart port city of international standards with effective urban strategies.

He stated that a robust policy is being devised to turn the coastal city into a regional hub of trade and business activities.

The Minister was chairing the Steering Committee meeting on Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan here in Islamabad on Tuesday. Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal, Commander Southern Command Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa, Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan, DG FWO Maj. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, Deputy Chief of Mission at Chinese Embassy Mr. Zhao Li Jian, members Planning Commission, Project Director CPEC Hassan Daud, officials from departments concerned and senior officials of the ministry were present in the meeting.

PD CPEC Hassan Daud and FHDI team briefed the participants about the proposed Master plan.

The Minister appreciated the work done by Fourth Harbor Design Institute (FHDI) on Gwadar Master Plan noting that earlier recommendations made on land use and policy framework have been incorporated in the proposed plan. The Minister expressed optimism that the report/master plan will be finalized soon which will then be submitted to Cabinet for its final approval.

Khusro Bakhtyar said that Gwadar port has the potential to improve socio-economic lives of people of the city and Balochistan at large which will connect the region’s land and maritime route thereby benefiting the entire region. He underlined that Gwadar Master Plan is a major milestone towards achieving an inclusive and sustainable development of the coastal city.