CPEC: Pakistan Navy ramps up security at Gwadar

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

CPEC: Pakistan Navy ramps up security at Gwadar

Dawn.com Published January 5, 2016

QUETTA: Pakistan Navy has increased all-round security and surveillance at Gwadar Port with the commencement of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, reported Radio Pakistan.

"A special marine battalion has been raised for the security of Gwadar," stated a spokesperson of the Pakistan Navy while briefing media personnel during an extensive tour of the Gwadar site.

He added that Chinese engineers and delegates are currently visiting the port of Gwadar.

Gwadar is the port of origin and starting destination for CPEC, which will be linked to China's western region through a rail and road network.

"Gwadar is the backbone of CPEC," the spokesperson said, adding that the Pakistan Navy has been making strenuous efforts to ensure comprehensive security as well as the welfare of local people.

Also read: China's new Silk Road: What's in it for Pakistan?

CPEC: Background

The CPEC is a 3,000-kilometer network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport oil and gas from Gwadar Port to Kashgar city, northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Pakistan in May 2013, the CPEC will act as a bridge for the new Maritime Silk Route that envisages linking three billion people in Asia, Africa and Europe.

An official agreement on the corridor was signed between the two countries in May this year during President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Pakistan.

A flagship project of the Belt and Road initiative as well, the CPEC intends to revive the ancient Silk Road with a focus on infrastructure, and constitutes the strategic framework of bilateral cooperation.

Also explore: CPEC questions

The project links China's strategy to develop its western region with Pakistan's focus on boosting its economy, including the infrastructure construction of Gwadar Port, together with some energy cooperation and investment programs.

It also involves road and railway construction including an upgrade of the 1,300-km Karakoram Highway, the highest paved international road in the world which connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountains.

The CPEC will reduce China's routes of oil and gas imports from Africa and the Middle East by thousands of kilometers, making Gwadar a potentially vital link in China's supply chain.

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Ahmed USA

Jan 05, 2016 02:03pm

Indeed we need to protect all kind of maritime traffic in and out of persian gulf... After all we are a vital member of 34 state's grand alliance...

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Fast

Jan 05, 2016 02:09pm

Development of Gawadar should be top priority and agenda. it Will be a game changer no doubt.

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Concerned

Jan 05, 2016 02:23pm

@Mir, good idea...

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Alien

Jan 05, 2016 02:35pm

good job and good thinking especially after KSA and Iran tension .......... terrorist might take advantage............

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Threat Alert

Jan 05, 2016 02:51pm

That's very nice. This shows proactive approach on the part of our LEAs. However, a very strong network of intelligence agencies in and around Gawadar Port is extremely important. A proactive intelligence network can ward off an attack silently. I am quite sure our defense department is cognizant of this necessity.

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Jan 05, 2016 03:21pm

Just a matter of time !

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SUNIL

Jan 05, 2016 03:56pm

All the best. Economically strong Pakistan should enhance regional peace

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Faisal

Jan 05, 2016 04:06pm

Thanks to political leadership, finally a better change taking place in Pakistan, after so many years of downfall.

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Haroon

Jan 05, 2016 04:07pm

Pakistan should cash in on the Saudi-Iran tussle. India wants to develop Chahbahar port in Iran and that port is miles away from Gwadar. What Pakistan can do is to tap in the investment from Saudia Arabia and compel them to invest in Gwadar to fail Chabahar. I am sure owing to the strategic tussle Middle eastern block can invest heavily in Gwadar.

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WAJID

Jan 05, 2016 04:07pm

@Ahmed USA Of course Ahmed, when our neighbor Iran reached to India and offered its ports immediately after the development of CPEC, we need to be that consciously prudent to safe guard our assets and interests....

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Muhammad Arshad

Jan 05, 2016 04:55pm

Great News

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Saeed Masood

Jan 05, 2016 06:49pm

All our neighbours and friends and enemies are jealous of Pakistan China friendship specially CPEC...

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N_Saq

Jan 05, 2016 09:17pm

CPEC is the moment of truth for Pak. It will either make the country or break it. If carried out sincerely and with best efforts where all will benefit i.e. rich and poor, Punjab and the other provinces etc. then CPEC will make Pak otherwise it will break it. Also, Pak enemies will do everything to stop or derail its implementation as teh completion of CPEC will be a game over for them. What all need to understand is that the CPEC project is just in its starting phase and the $46B that China is planning to invest is just an initial investment. Later on China will spend 10 fold to make sure this project is not sabotaged as it will become the lifeline for China plus there will be an immense benefit to Pak economy as a result of CPEC related economic activity. Here patience and sincerity are the key, if Pak politicians can join heads and make it happen then my friends Pak has arrived.

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tahir

Jan 05, 2016 09:22pm

Gawadar port should be secured via city pass cards. so that only authorized citizen could visit or do business reason is that , anyone from anywhere can enter the international trade zone without any reason. Pakistan should secure its boarder and cities. Because Arabs are more dangerous to us than Afghanistan.

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Farhan

Jan 05, 2016 10:52pm

Are we putting all the eggs again in one basket?

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Gawal Mandi Ya

Jan 05, 2016 10:56pm

We need to protect all military installations at all cost,this should have been already done,have we not learned our lesson?

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Malik Achakzai

Jan 06, 2016 12:07am

The concerns of nations in Pakistan who demand that this route should go western. And in his policy statement to Pakistani parliament, Ahsan Iqbal, the federal minister for planning and development has also stated the said project equal to the worth of Pakistan's atomic program. No doubt several question would come to ones mind as the project is having its international rivals in the form of United States who won't be willing to see their rival China stretch that much for connecting east and west through this route. As well as Pakistan is now faced by internal tensions of the unequality and provincial cries over rights needs a solid statement followed by action from the country's prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif. Because a hue and cry over this project would surely give tougher time to federal government in a time when Pakistan need energy and investment. At the same time busy with new fold of war on terror in the form of IS threat and terrorist organizations.

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Zak

Jan 06, 2016 01:00am

@Haroon we should diffuse the situation as a lead asian power, not escalate it. As for chabbar, it's a failed project. Where goods have to be loaded and unloaded of boats- it's a non starter.

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Shahid

Jan 06, 2016 01:23am

How is CPEC a game changer for Pakistan if it primarily will be a route for oil and gass to China. Expecting China to build sizeable export heavy industry in its west within foreseeable future can only be a dream. They have shown no movement in Xinjiand yet and any development there could only be proportionate with province's very little population and available skilled labor.

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Humza

Jan 06, 2016 05:07am

@Haroon The Iranian Port at Chahbahar is another matter that should not concern Pakistan. Nations should have good relations with all neighbors. Chahbahar is not a deep water port and does not pose any threat to Pakistan. It is childish to have to compete with others. Pakistan needs to develop Gwadar for its own good and that includes both routes, Eastern and Western.

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haider

Jan 06, 2016 06:06am

Looks good on paper But what's the guarantee that the next government will not put this on hold?

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Khwarezmi

Jan 06, 2016 04:24pm

china warned Pakistan about RAW plans to sabotage CPEC by sending in terrorists from Afghanistan. I am sure Pakistani government has taken messures to address this.

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irfan

Jan 07, 2016 05:20am

Time for India and Pakistan to walk the talk.

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