According to officials working in Gwadar, multi-million dollar port is set to be fully operational by the end of the year. Gwadar port, on Pakistan’s southwest coast, will see roughly one million tonnes of cargo going through it by 2017, said Zhang Baozhong, chairman of the Chinese public company in charge of the development. He said that it is hard task but they are ready for the big jump to make Gwadar a regional trading hub.
Initially port was built in 2007 with technical help from Beijing as well as Chinese financial assistance of about $248 million. Now China is investing massive $46 billion in Pakistan under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar is being considered the ‘heart’ of the project. Project would give direct access to China to Middle East, Africa and Europe through Pakistan. Chinese official said that with the development in the city, Gwadar has the potential to become another Dubai. The revamped port has three multipurpose berths and its inner is dredged to 11.5 metres.
At the moment locals of Balochistan are working along with Chinese for the development of the port but still apprehensions exist that after development locals would be sidelined. Government needs to give assurance and confidence to the people living in the area that Gwadar port would be mutual beneficial for all. In fact project has created jobs for local people.
Government and law enforcing agencies also need to eradicate foreign supported anti-state elements. In recent times foreign spies are held which shows enemies of Pakistan are busy to destabilize situation in Balochistan to fail the CPEC. Project is being considered game changer for the region and it has the potential to do so.
