GWADAR: Senior officials of two Chinese delegations, who reached Gwadar on Tuesday on a three-day visit, showed keen interest in investment in several proposed development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and said that the port city would prove to be an economic hub for the entire region.

A 19-member delegation was led by the Vice President of China’s Central Development Bank, Xaio Mingzheng, while the other delegation was headed by the Secretary General of Secretariat of Karamay and Chief of Centre of Social and Economic Development Research, Duan Linyun.

Members of the delegations inspected an under-construction school in Faqir Colony funded by the Chinese government, Port Civic Centre, Gwadar Free Trade Zone, Gwadar Development Authority and Gwadar Port Complex.

Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) Chairman Dostain Khan Jamaldani and Director General of Gwadar Development Authority Sajjad Hussain Baloch briefed members of the delegations on different under-construction projects.

The China Central Development Bank team took keen interest in the Gwadar Port, Gwadar Development Authority and several other development projects. Members of the delegation said there were ample opportunities for investment in these projects.

They also showed keen interest in linking Gwadar with the National Grid of Khuzdar after construction of a power plant under the CPEC project.

The other delegation was informed that preparations for signing of an accord to declare Gwadar and Karamay the twin cities were underway under the cultural exchange programme. Under the programme, five doctors of Gwadar had completed their training in China in the first phase and five more doctors and five teachers have reached China for training.

Under the programme, students of the twin cities would participate in summer camp of each other’s cities.

Members of the delegations said that construction material and construction equipment would be prepared in the Industrial Park which was necessary for construction of a modern Gwadar city.

The Chairman of Gwadar District Council, Babu Gulab, hosted a dinner in honour of the Chinese delegations.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2016