Land acquisition done, free zone construction to start now!

• Gwadar Port Authority completes acquisition of land for free zone which will spread over an area of 9.23 sq kms.

The Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) has completed the land acquisition process for free zone (FZ) and its execution is expected to kick off soon.

The Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) has arranged the funds to be given to the concession holder for the acquisition. With the development of FZ, the port’s trans-shipments, exports and imports will enhance significantly.

The company will simultaneously establish a large exhibition centre adjacent to the port for display of Chinese and Pakistani products. This would be the first zone in Pakistan, spread over an area of 9.23 sq km, adjacent to the port.

According to a budget document, the Gwadar Port offers a lot of opportunities to prospective investors. The Chinese investors have taken keen interest in establishing Marine Silk Route and establishment of heavy industries in the industrial zone.

In this regard, Banks from China and Pakistan are working on concept of development of Special Economic Zones in Punjab and Balochistan and the investors, especially the Chinese, are planning to establish a steel mill and a cement factory in Gwadar.

Moreover, under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Gwadar Port is said to be strategically important to China because it will bring closer Middle Eastern ports to China through Karakoram Highway (KKH) linking Gwadar with Kashgar.

Under CPEC, the Gwadar Port is considered as gateway of CPEC and Gwadar as one of the pivot cities of the corridor.

The first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of CPEC is currently being developed in Gwadar city.

The government-to-government CPEC agreements have created bright prospects for optimum operationalisation of the port and harnessing the benefits of regional trade connectivity through this naturally deep-sea port by Pakistan, China, Central Asian Republics and Afghanistan.

To resolve the port connectivity with the highway network, Gwadar Port Eastbay Expressway project has been agreed upon for funding under the CPEC. The project has been approved by the ECNEC at an estimated cost of Rs.14 billion and its execution has been kicked off.

The proposed expressway will connect the port with the Makran Coastal Highway, passing along the east bay of Gwadar City, with a total length of 18.98 km, including 4.3 km along-the-shore/ off-shore and 14.6 km on-shore sections. A rail link along this expressway is also part of the project.