Pakistan's Gwadar Port to offer World-class Transhipment Facility: PM
'Pakistan Times' Balochistan Bureau

GWADAR: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Tuesday that Gwadar Port will offer a world class transhipment cargo facility at a low cost for the entire region as well as Afghanistan and Central Asia.

He was speaking at the signing of concession agreement between Gwadar Port Authority (GDA) and Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) at a local hotel. Commodore (rtd) Munir Wahid and group CEO PSA Eddie E G Teh signed the agreement in the presence of Prime Minister.

Acting Senate Chairman Mir Jan Jamali, Govenor Balochistan Owais Ahmed Ghani, Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Yousuf, CM Sindh Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, federal ministers including, Port and Shipping Minister Babar Khan Ghauri, Jahangir Khan Tareen, Mohammad Ali Durrani, Zubaida Jalal, Naseer Mengal, Parliamentarians, local notables including Nazim Gwadar were also present on the occasion.

“This port will serve as an entry point for Afghanistan and Central Asia and bring in change in the life of people of Balochistan and Gwadar by creating enormous job opportunities and improve life standards”, he said.

The prime minister said that the government was building a road network to connect Gwadar port to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

He said the draft of Gwadar port was 14.5 meters deep which will allow large vessels to berth here off load cargo for feeder ships to take to other ports in the region.

“PSA will operate this port on modern lines and use the latest operational techniques currently being used world over at the international ports”, he added.

Shaukat Aziz said that the location of the port was unique and it is geographically located in the Gulf region and facilitates the handling of cargo to and from Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Similarly, coming up of new industrial zones in Gwadar will also contribute to the importance of this port in the area. He hoped that PSA will bring in leading shipping lines to this port and they will get first class service here.

Counting the benefits of the port for the people of Gwadar and Balochistan, he said they will get jobs, improve their living standards and the area will get investment.

“We are training people so that they can get jobs here at the state of the art port. Gwadar Port will brighten the future of this area and region and people will see a development. This port will generate so many jobs that workforce in Gwadar will fall short of the requirments, he noted.

Gwadar port will serve as hub in the region and cargo will be shipped through feeder vessels to other nearby ports. He said that this will be the only port of its kind in Pakistan.

He pointed out that previously Pakistan bound cargo was delayed due to handling at other regional ports raising the freight cost.

This will reduce shipment time, cut cost and provide job opportunities to locals, he added.

The Prime Minister praised Port and Shipping Minister Babar Khan Ghauri for speedily completing the bidding process in a transparent manner.

“Gwadar was witnessing development revolution as industrial zones were being developed, new world class hotels were coming up, housing schemes are developed,”, he said.

Shaukat Aziz said that the boat building activity has geared up in Gwadar and the number of new boats was increasing which will further enhance income of the people in the area. “Today is the defining day in the history of Pakistan and the history of port and shipping in the country.

Gwadar Port is gradually becoming a reality and will be formally opened by the end of March by the President of Pakistan when the first mega ship will berth at this port”, the prime minister said.

He said that it took six years for Port Qasim to take first ship. He said when Dubai port was developed, it had only two miles of metal road.

He said Pakistan has signed agreement with PSA for operating and managing Gwadar Port. “They are experienced world class port operator.

With their marketing abililty they will be able to attract mother vessels to come to Gwadar and tranship the cargo to other ports in the region”, he noted.

“We are changing the destiny of Gwadar. We will promote tourism here and new airport and hotels are coming up here. He said that new fishing port will also be developed a few minutes away from Gwadar port where fishermen will land their catch.

He said infrastructure was being developed in Gwadar to support the port.

Earlier, Group CEO PSA Eddie Teh in his address said Gwadar Port will offer transhipment cargo facility to the land locked countries like Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics.

He said this port will berth mega ships like panamax vessels which prefer to go to deep seaports in the world.

Impact of the Port

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that Gwadar Port project will change the destiny of the people in Balochistan by improving their living standards and providing increased job opportunities.

Talking to newsmen here after the signing of an agreement with Port Singapore Authority for the operation and management of Gwadar Port.

“Gwadar will become an attractive destination for cargo traffic providing better facilities to large vessels,” the Prime Minister said.

He said that the port will be formally inaugurated in March this year by President General Pervez Musharraf, who has all along taken keen interest in the welfare of the people of Balochistan.

Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said that the Port Singapore Authority will invest $ 550 million during the next five years and no duty will be imposed on the machinery to be imported for development work in this area.

To another question, he said the deep-sea Gwadar Port will not only enhance Pakistan’s strategic importance in South West Asian region but it will usher in a new era of socio-economic development in Balochistan.

The Prime Minister said a new airport and an industrial zone will also be developed at Gwadar.

“We want to operate this port in the best possible manner. We have selected the best company, which is already operating ports in 11 countries,” he added.

Shaukat Aziz said that Gwadar Port will be linked with the Central Asian Republics (CATs), besides its linkage with the Coastal Highway, Indus Highway and Karachi Coastal Highway.

A railway link with the entire country was also being actively considered, he added.

Earlier, addressing the signing ceremony, the Prime Minister said through implementation of mega projects like Gwadar Port, the present government will embark upon a journey of increased socio-economic development in the country.

He said, “As a result of competitive services expected to be offered at Gwadar Port, there will be investment, employment and increased economic activity”.

Referring to technical and financial support extended by China, the Prime Minister said that China “has greatly helped us in translating the dream of Gawadar Port into a reality”.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the reduction in cost of doing business has improved the investment environment in Pakistan, having positive impact on economic growth and employment generation.

Under the agreement signed with Port Singapore Authority, two terminal areas will be developed that include multi-purpose terminal area and container terminal area at Gwadar Port.

The scope of the agreement covers three separate business areas including terminal and cargo handling operation, marine services consisting of piloting, tugging, mooring, vessels traffic and anchorage management and free zone development.

The Port Authority Singapore has been given a complete tax holiday for 20 years that applies to federal, provincial and local taxes.

The authority will install two additional quay-side gantry cranes for handling of containers within next nine months.

Road Network

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the development of vast network of roads alongwith other development activities in Balochistan will benefit the people of this province. He was addressing a ceremony held here to give the control of Coastal Highway to National Highway and Motorway Police.

The Prime Minister said, owing to the government’s investment-friendly policies and opening of various economic sectors, the private sector was taking huge interest and billions of rupees are expected to be invested in Balochistan in the coming years.

He said, the government was encouraging the private sector to establish more fish processing and packing plants and factories in the area to exploit the potential of this sector, as at present there is only one fish packing factory in Gawadar.

The Prime Minister said, the government was also focusing on the promotion of tourism in this area and would construct a modern airport at Gawadar, as the existing one was not enough to cater to the needs.

He said, the PML government by launching and implementing various mega development projects in Balochistan has translated the dreams into reality.

The Prime Minister referred to the progress on various dams in the province and said the Mirani Dam has already been opened, while the Subakzai Dam will soon be inaugurated.

He said, Balochistan has huge potential in the oil and gas sector and the government was encouraging the private sector to explore and exploit this potential.

The Prime Minister, however, added that as the development of a vast road network was imperative to attract the investors, the government was working on it vigorously.

The government will develop Gawadar-Chaman road, besides linking Balochistan with other areas of the country through Rata Dero-Indus Highway road and linking it with GT road, adding, the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) was also available in some projects.

He said, the government was also working on a plan to link Gawadar with Iranian city of Gupth, which will further strengthen the existing bilateral relations in various fields.

The Prime Minister lauded and termed the performance of National Highway and Motorway Police as excellent and professional and said the government will also give them the control of M-25 (RCD Highway).

He said, Motorway Police in Gawadar would be given hard area allowance, as it has been approved in principle.

The Prime Minister said, the government was working on a comprehensive plan to improve and upgrade the traffic system across the country, with work in progress on various roads, underpasses and fly-overs.●