ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered immediate steps to operationalise Gwadar Port on a com-mercial basis, Radio Pakistan reported. Chairing a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, the PM formed a committee, led by Plan-ning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, tasked with working alongside stakeholders to ensure the port’s develop-ment into a fully functional and modern hub.
“The Gwadar Port has the potential to transform into a key player in the regional economy, and we must expedite its operationalisation,” said PM Shehbaz, who also called for an international confer-ence to raise awareness about the strategic importance of the port.
He stressed the importance of developing a comprehensive marketing strategy and strengthening dip-lomatic efforts to highlight the port’s potential.
The meeting was briefed on Gwadar Port’s capacity to accommodate ships up to 50,000 deadweight tonnes, providing vital access to the Persian Gulf and serving as a transshipment point for Gulf coun-tries.
Additionally, the port is expected to play a key role in the development of Balochistan’s mining and aquaculture sectors and will facilitate trade with China and Central Asia.
The meeting also discussed the tax exemptions granted to the Gwadar Free Zone, aimed at encourag-ing investment. The Free Zone’s rules have also been established to attract more investors.
PM Shehbaz was informed that criminal negligence in dredging operations between 2018 and 2022 had impacted the port’s depth.
However, dredging work completed in 2022-2023 has restored the port’s capacity. All utility services are now available at the port, and several public welfare projects, including the Pak-China Friendship Hospital and Gwadar Institute of Technical Education, have been initiated.
The government is also working on improving connectivity. A rail link to Pakistan Railways’ Main Line M-4 is under development, and the Gwadar-Quetta Highway, completed in 2018, has benefited sev-eral key areas in Balochistan.
The construction of the Gwadar Eastbay Expressway is progressing, with further plans for a road from Nokundi to Mashkhel and Mashkhel to Panjgur.
Iqbal proposed modernising the cargo inspection facilities at the port using artificial intelligence to en-hance efficiency. The PM reiterated the government’s commitment to making Gwadar Port a hub of commerce and regional development. –Agencies
