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ISLAMABAD: The Gwadar Deep Sea Port, a mega development project bound to usher in a new era of socio-economic progress in Balochistan, is likely to generate $ 60 billion per annum economic activity in the coming years.
Since the Gwadar Port will emerge as a hub of business, trade and commercial activity for countries of Central Asia, Middle East and South Asia, it would provide a solid base for the progress and prosperity of the people of Balochistan, official sources said.
According to the sources, the development of communication links, network of roads, railways and relating activities, including trade transactions, goods transportation, storage facilities etc. would directly or indirectly benefit the most of population in Balochistan.
The engagement of Balochistan population in trade activities, with local people already given various jobs in Gwadar, will help significantly improve their living standard and enhance their purchasing power.
Besides, improved delivery of social services like health and education at the doorsteps would bring Balochistan at par with other provinces.
The sources said that during the recent visit of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to China, an agreement was signed to augment the capacity of the Gwadar Port, which would facilitate accommodation of bigger ships like oil tankers, bulk carriers, general cargo vessels and generation container ships.
Work on Coastal Highway, connecting Karachi with Gwadar, has already been completed, while the expansion work of the Gwadar airport has been started and the feasibility study to connect Gwadar by rail to be completed by March this year.
Major banks, State Life Insurance Corporation and other
national institutions have
been directed by the prime minister to set up their offices in Gwadar.
All these facilities would play a vital role in generation of economic activity in the province and help create more job opportunities for the locals and turn Gwadar into a hub of economic activity in the region.
Gwadar has the potential to attract the transit and trans-shipment trade, as it provides an alternative route to Gulf Ports and the Central Asian Republics.
The Gwadar Deep Sea Port would be the third largest seaport in Pakistan after Karachi and Port Qasim and reinforce the countryâ?Ts economic development and rapidly transform Balochistan into an important industrial and trade centre.
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