ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: Minister for Communication and Railways Javed Ashraf Qazi said on Thursday the work on Gwadar port will be completed before the scheduled time.

The first phase of the project was scheduled to be completed by mid 2005 with a cost of $198 million, but due to speedy work by Chinese Construction Company, the project will be completed by the end of 2004, he said while speaking at a PTV programme Breakfast.

The Minister said that the Chinese company had started drainage work in the sea ahead of six weeks from the scheduled time.

He expressed the confidence that with the completion of the Gwadar port the population of the Western bank of River Indus areas would benefit.

The Gwadar port would also help increase trade with the Middle Eastern countries, he added.—APP