ISLAMABAD, March 6: Completion of Gwadar Port will usher in a new era of economic and industrial development in the country. This was stated by Federal Secretary for Communications Iftikhar Rashid during a press briefing on development of Gwadar at the communications ministry on Saturday.

He said Gwadar Port project would be completed ahead of schedule. He said the port was one of the significant projects which was being completed on priority basis. The first phase of the port would be completed at a cost of $248 million, out of which $50 million would be provided by the Pakistani government while the remaining was being provided by China.

The secretary said Pakistani and Chinese experts were doing a tremendous job and the project would be completed before the scheduled timeframe with quality construction.

"Working conditions at Gwadar are very difficult, and availability of raw material is a difficult job. About 40,000 acres is required for Gwadar Master Plan. About 79 per cent dredging work has been completed, while 80 per cent, 40 per cent and 10 per cent of work on first, second and third berth has been completed respectively," Mr Rashid said.

He said seven international firms had expressed interest in developing Gwadar on the pattern of Dubai and Singapore and that contract was likely to be awarded in three months. A special economic zone will also be established to make Gwadar a hub of economic and industrial activities.

He said there would be free trading at Gwadar and a number of employment opportunities would be generated. He said 653km long Makran Coastal Highway was a project of great significance that would provide direct approach to Gwadar and other ports.

He said keeping in view the future trade-traffic with Central Asian states, the government was attaching great importance to establishing a high standard highway network in the country.

He said with regard to regional trade activity, the shortest route would be available through Pakistan for China and the Central Asian states. He said Rs3 billion was being obtained from toll tax highways and that a major portion of this money was being spent on construction, extension and maintenance of highways in Balochistan.

A coordinated road network in this province will open up new avenues of economic and industrial development in Balochistan. He expected that proper utilization of natural resources and minerals of Balochistan and proper management of Gwadar Port would make the province rich.