QUETTA: Gwadar is going to be at the forefront of future development in Pakistan, Balochistan’s Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch said on Wednesday while speaking at a ceremony to hand over 637 acres of land to China for establishing a free trade zone.

He said $46 billion Chinese investment under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has immense importance for the two countries but the whole region will reap rich benefits from it.

“Participation by the people of Gwadar in the process will be crucial for success of the mega project,” Dr Malik said.

National Development and Reforms Commission of China Vice Chairman Wang Xiaotao, Federal Minister for Planning Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Shipping and Ports Kamran Michael, Chief Secretary Balochistan Saifullah Chattah, Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Mir Dostain Khan Jamaldani and other senior officials were also present.

The chief minister said the people of Gwadar wished to be the part of this important development project and it was necessary to take practical steps to ensure their active participation. “Balochistan enjoys central position to link east, west and central Asia for trade,” he added.

“Socio-economic development of the region should be given importance in the CPEC project,” he said, adding that providing opportunities to the local people of Gwadar would create a sense of ownership in locals that is necessary for the economic corridor.

He said the government will declare Gwadar a free port, a step which would increase investment opportunities manifold.

The development projects approved for Gwadar should be finalised in the joint working group meeting, he said and underlined the need to focus on water and energy projects in the city.

Dr Malik said that the people of Pakistan value friendship with China as it extended economic, technical, assistance and diplomatic help to Pakistan.

He said the government was preparing plan for the security of Gwadar and soon implementation would be ensured on comprehensive Gwadar Safe City Project with the cooperation of the federal government. “All security institutions, including Pakistan army and the Frontier Constabulary would play their role for the security of CPEC project.”

Speaking on the occassion, Mr Iqbal said that work was under way on communication, rail, energy industrial development under CPEC project and the government is also working for the development of other sectors.

“Road network is under construction to make Gwadar port more accessible while work on M-85 and M-8 would be completed soon,” he said.

Efforts were also under way to improve the standard of Quetta-Chaman and Quetta-Zhob highways.

Mr Xiaotao said Pakistan-China friendship was a guarantee for the peace, development and prosperity in the entire region, adding: “We want a peaceful Pakistan and we appreciate the war it is fighting against terrorism.”

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2015

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