ISLAMABAD: Two ships carrying Chinese cargo left the Gwadar port under the protection of Pakistan Navy ships for the Middle East and Africa, according to a statement issued by the navy on Tuesday.

The statement said the cargo was brought in from the western Chinese town of Kashgar, under the pilot project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), to the Gwadar port located in the southwest tip of Pakistan.

The cargo containers were subsequently put on board the MV Cosco Willington and MV Al Hussein which left the port accompanied by the Pakistani naval ships till they reached the international waters.

The navy, aware of its responsibility to make the maritime component of the CPEC and Gwadar port safe, deployed its ships and aircraft to provide security cover to ensure safe and secure transit of MV Cosco Willington and MV Al Hussein in the international waters, the statement said.

The CPEC project — with an investment of $46 billion and the Gwadar port as its lynchpin — will be a real game-changer and manifestation of strategic partnership between Pakistan and China.

Cognizant of these challenges, the navy accorded high priority to the security of the maritime components, Gwadar port, its approaches and sea lanes leading to and from the port, the statement added.

With the Gwadar port going into operation the maritime traffic to and from the port is expected to increase. So while providing security to the CPEC on land, maritime security was considered vital for the overall success of the project.

The Pakistan Navy has adopted a multipronged approach to deal with the prevailing challenges such as beefing up security of the Gwadar port, conducting security patrols and coastal exercises, enhancing maritime domain awareness and engaging with other law enforcement agencies, the statement said.

In this context, the navy has remained fully committed and geared up to provide conducive maritime environment for an uninterrupted flow of the maritime trade in the country’s exclusive economic zone, added the statement.

Published in Dawn November 16th, 2016