QUETTA: Chairman, Senate Standing Committee for Water and Power Senator Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasir said on Monday that Gwadar, an important component of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would serve as gateway for Afghanistan and Central Asian Republic (CARs) owing to its location and geo-strategic importance. In an exclusive talk with APP, the CPEC framework has enhanced importance of Balochistan province across the globe. With the special focus and attention by the federal government, Gwadar having a long coastal belt, would be center of Pakistan’s economic activities as well as the port for world trade in coming days. He informed that work on construction of free trade zone, modern international airport and seaport, educational institutions, sports grounds and energy projects was progressing at a fast pace in Gwadar which would further strengthen economic situation of Balochistan and the country. He hoped that the completion of these mega projects would end unemployment and usher in a new era of development. Yaqoob Nasir opined that CPEC was not mere a road rather it was a flagship project having different land, sea and aerial routes to be expanded from Gwadar to China.