GWADAR, July 05 (DNA): Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said
“Pakistan can benefit from its strategic location and also from the
expertise of its friend China which is an economic power in the region.
Addressing at the launch of development projects and the signing
ceremony of Memoranda of Understanding here in the port city, the prime
minister said Gwadar would open up new avenues of opportunities for
regional trade.
The Prime Minister said the future belonged to Gwadar emerging as the
‘focal point of development’ and ensuring prosperity for the entire
country.
The prime minister who arrived in Gwadar on a day-long visit inaugurated
the first phase of Gwadar Free Zone besides performing the
groundbreaking of the its second phase spread at 2,200 acres and opening
of three factories.
The prime minister said his vision of an emerging Pakistan was a
steadfast nation which was committed to the prosperity of the country.
He said the government was focused on ensuring provision of basic
amenities including clean water and electricity to encourage
industrialization.
He said the recently announced Rs 7.3 billion development budget by the
federal government for Balochistan was historic, that aimed at uplifting
the province and mitigating the longstanding deprivation of its people.
“No country can progress unless it mainstreams all its areas and ensure
development across the board,” he said, adding that connectivity was one
of the major component of the Balochistan package.
Imran Khan said the government was prioritizing development in far-flung
areas of Balochistan, northern areas and rural Punjab.
The prime minister mentioned that Gwadar International Airport would
encourage regional trade and boost economic activity.
He said one-window operation was in progress to facilitate the investors
and urged upon the provincial governments to ensure proper servicing of
investors since the subject moved to them after the passage of 18the
Amendment.
Imran Khan thanked the government of China for launch of water and solar
projects in Balochsitan, particularly Gwadar.
He also mentioned the technical education provided by China to the
locals of Gwadar, which he said, would prove greatly helpful as the
foreign investment grew in future.
The prime minister mentioned several initiatives for the uplift of
Gwadar including the university, employment under Kamyab Jawan
Programme, and the upgradation of the equipment of local fishermen to
ensure value addition to their catch.
He said the Prime Minister Office would regularly monitor the progress
on the development plans initiated in Gwadar on a monthly basis.
The prime minister said regional countries had expressed interest in
reaping the benefits offered by the Gwadar port.
In this scenario, he expressed concern over the law and situation in
Afghanistan, which he said, was extremely important for the continuity
of development.
Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan said the provincial government
had been collaborating with the CPEC Authority to resolve the issues of
customs. He drew attention to the problem regarding the relocation of
locals along the Eastbay and mentioned that efforts were on for an
amicable solution.
He said the Public Sector Development Programme for the current fiscal
year covered the entire Balochistan and mentioned that the extension of
Gwadar Hospital up to 200 beds, construction of the first university in
Gwadar, border markets and uplift of villages were on the cards.
Chinese Ambassador Non Rong said the cooperation between the governments
of Pakistan and China had led the several projects to see the light of
the day. He said over the past eight years, the two countries
accelerated their pace on several projects related to civic amenities,
particularly clean water and solar plants.
He said Gwadar was a showcase of the “Chinese solution” for Pakistan’s
development.
By taking a comprehensive way of development, Gwadar Port would turn
into a business hub, he said, adding that China would continue to extend
support for a shared future with Pakistan.
Chairman CPEC Authority Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa said the Gwadar
Free Zone spread at 60 acres had been completed where 46 enterprises
were operational.
He said now, the groundbreaking of the second phase at the vast 2200
acres starting today would usher in a new era of prosperity in Gwadar
and in Balochsitan.
He mentioned that the personal interest of Prime Minister Imran Khan
resulted in materialization of transshipment policy, Afghan transit
policy, the framework signing and execution of border trade with Iran
and starting work at Eastbay Expressway.
He said several significant development projects were in progress
including the Gwadar International Airport and Vocational Institute to
develop skills of the locals.
Bajwa said conspiracies were on the rise against CPEC, however the
commitment of the government greatly helped thwart such challenges.
Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi,
Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Minister for Defence
Production Zubaida Jalal, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi were
present.
Earlier, the prime minister before landing at the Gwadar Airport took an
aerial view of the infrastructure built at the seaport including the
Expressway.
On his arrival at the China Business Centre Hall, he was given a
detailed briefing of the South Balochistan Development Package. He held
an interaction with the CPEC Workforce.
Moreover, seven regional countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Kenya and Qatar on Monday expressed their
commitment for cooperation on the development of Gwadar.
With their respective ambassadors present at a ceremony attended by
Prime Minister Imran Khan, the regional countries showed their support
for the development of Pakistan’s port city.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on the occasion also witnessed the signing of
two Memoranda of Understanding with the government of China for carrying
out development projects in Gwadar.
The accords included the implementation agreement on setting up of 1.2
MGD desalination plant to resolve the shortage of drinking water for the
residents of Gwadar.
Other agreements included China’s grant for solar generators for South
Balochistan, and the groundbreaking of North Gwadar Free Zone and
Enterprises.
Also on the occasion, the Chinese investors through video-link from
Shanghai showed the ‘Expression of Commitment for Investment’. Those who
pledged to invest in Balochistan’s different sectors included Huang
Weiguo (textile), Huang Daoyuan (prefabricated technology), Fang Hongyan
(agriculture), Shen Jian (wool spinning), David Dia and Chen Yi (dairy
processing) and Bao Dequan (textile).
The factories inaugurated on the occasion included chemical fertilizer
factory, Gwadar Animal Vaccination factory and lubricant factory,
besides the opening of Gwadar Tissue Plant Laboratory. DNA
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