Dream comes True
By the Editor

AT a marvelous ceremony, the operational and management control of the newly built Gwadar Port has, eventually been handed over to the Port of Singapore Authority.

Though the Port would formally be inaugurated in March but signing of the agreement with PSA is an important concrete step to make it operational.

It is a matter of satisfaction and pride for all Pakistanis that the country now has another Deep-Sea Port to cater to the growing trade activities.

This should have been done quite earlier but the project remained in cold storage mainly because of lack of will and sincerity on the part of those at the helm of affairs.

The present leadership, therefore, deserves credit for translating the dream into reality.

We also feel delighted our time-tested friend China that helped us a lot in accomplishing the task.

Not only that, Chinese has also expressed their willingness to undertake the important second phase of the port construction and development.

Completion of the Gwadar Port project is an important milestone in the economic development of Pakistan.

As pointed out by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, it will change the destiny of the people of Balochistan by improving their living standards and providing increased job opportunities.

The Government has done well by offering different kinds of incentives for the port operator, who in turn has committed to invest $550 million during the next five years.

It has also the potential to become a hub of regional economic and trade activities. However, for this to happen, we will have to shun rhetoric and embark upon an expeditious plan to initiate and complete the second phase of the project to accommodate large vessels.

Similarly, speedy development of the port related facilities and other infrastructure is also crucial for success of its operations.

It is quite understood that there are several other ports in the vicinity and we will have to make Gwadar competitive to ensure that it attracts cargo traffic.

We wish to see that work on new airport and industrial zone also gets started on priority basis to kick-start economic and commercial activities in Gwadar.

At the same time, we feel optimistic that the President and the Prime Minister, as before, shall continue to take personal interest to remove all types of bottlenecks that might hinder multi-directional developmental activities in the area.

Amid such a vision, dream to bring affluence to Balochistan in particular and Pakistan in general—shall stand translated into a reality—with optimal steadfastness, which exists as sincerity is—its hallmark.●