GWADAR: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Thursday inaugurated a string of development projects for Balochistan including a dam, Gwadar Free Zone, Business Complex and a University, all aimed at mainstreaming the country’s remotest areas.
Addressing a gathering here after inaugurating a string of development projects aimed at development of the Gwadar Port, the Prime Minster said he was very pleased to witness Gwadar develop as an international city as his dream of 1991 was eventually coming true.
He regretted that the pace of development initiated by him in 1991 was disrupted and said had there been continuity in his tenure Gwadar Port city would have been developed long time back and contributed to national development.
The Prime Minister also witnessed inking of several agreements for different projects between Pakistani and Chinese companies.
Sharif said the several multi-billion dollar projects in Gwadar were a proof that investors have confidence in the security and law and order situation in the area. He mentioned the significance of the project for the country by describing Gwadar as Pakistan and Pakistan as Gwadar.
The Prime Minister said all the projects once completed in next few years would bring in a world class sea port to the region. He said Gwadar was the central point of focus in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. He said it would not only have a positive impact on the province, but also the entire country.
Nawaz Sharif said 300 MW coal-fired power plant would help energise the various projects, a de salination plant and a US 39 billion dollar international airport and an efficient train service. He said Gwadar would be connected to Motorway and road network through various US 100 billion projects besides it would also have a vocational training centre and a Rs four billion university.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was accompanied with Governor Balochistan Mohammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, Gen. (Retd) Qadir Baloch, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Bizenjo and National Security Advisor Gen. (Retd) Nasir Janjua accompanied the Prime Minister and China’s ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong.
The Prime Minister was briefed about the various projects. The Prime Minister unveiled plaques of projects that included Gwadar Free Zone that would be exempt from taxes for 23 years and covers an area of 2300 acres. The infrastructure would be completed in a year’s time and was being constructed by China’s Overseas Port Holding Company.
He also unveiled plaque for a Business Service Complex that would house offices of companies involved in export, import and trade. The building would later house a Container Terminal also.
The other projects included inauguration of a school at Gwadar that has been gifted by the Communist Party of China. It has been constructed at a cost of US 400,000 dollars in a low-income area in six months period.
He also inaugurated the Shadikaur dam, 130 kms from Pasni and 70 kms from Gwadar with a storage capacity of 45000 acre feet. Work on the project began in June 2011 and the lake covers an area of 1813 sq km that would meet the irrigation and drinking water needs of the people of the area.
The Prime Minister also unveiled a plaque for the University of Gwadar that would provide quality higher education to the people of the remotest areas of the country and help them play their part in national development.
