KARACHI: The Gwadar Port will play an important role in the socio-economic development of the country in general and Balochistan in particular once the Gwadar Port Free Zone (GPFZ) becomes operational, says Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping.
Presiding over a meeting of the standing committee in Gwadar, Shah said the Gwadar International Airport and the Gwadar Port East Bay Expressway projects would be completed in near future. He said that development of the Gwadar Port and the city had been a priority of the previous and the incumbent government.
He expressed the hope that with the completion of basic infrastructure like water, power and road projects the national economy would see a steep rise and bring about a socio-economic change in the region.
The committee observed that it should be the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to provide basic services and tax policies that were required to make a port fully functional. He said that port operators and investors should be given incentives. The committee extended its full support to the Ministry of Port and Shipping and the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) in their endeavours to make the port a success.
Shah praised the role of the ministry, especially the efforts of Ports and Shipping Secretary Khalid Pervez for early completion of the port related projects.
Senator Kamran Michael, federal minister for ports and shipping, informed the committee about a number of under-construction and upcoming development projects such as Gwadar Port East Bay Expressway that would be completed at the cost of Rs 14 billion.
This expressway having a six-lane dual carriageway and a two-way railway line would connect the port with the Makran Coastal Highway. This project is being completed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and it would ensure fast and unhindered cargo shipment to and from the port thereby eliminating the congestion on the existing single-track access road passing through urban the centres.
Answering the questions of the members of the committee, the ports and shipping secretary said that the relevant ministries had been approached to address issues pertaining to infrastructure development and develop a comprehensive tax exemption package for operators and investors in Gwadar Port and its free zone.
During the meeting, committee members gave their input to overcome problems faced by the port authorities and the port operator, China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC).