News Analysis |
The Chief Minister of Balochistan and Chairman of the Governing Body of the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA), Mir. Abdul Quddus Bizenjo approved Rs.1 billion for the completion of current ongoing projects and to launch business projects in the port city on February 20, 2018. He was also briefed on projects under CPEC by the Director General of GDA.
The financial issues of the GDA for development schemes for the port city, which are delaying the development have been discussed too in this meeting. Official sources claimed, the governing body approved Rs. 500 million for the ongoing development schemes and another 500 million for their bridge financing. The body has passed the amended annual budget of 2016-17 and 2017-18 for the GDA.
Living standards of the city are improving with GDA New housing scheme. Experts believe that in the coming 10 years, Gwadar will evolve into a prospering and self-sustaining city, perfect for both luxurious living and expanding businesses.
The PC-1s of three development projects were also approved at the meeting. The meeting concluded that public-private partnership joint projects would be launched with private land owners to enable GDA as a self-reliant organization. A plan was also approved to make Sur-Bandar and Peshkan jetties operational through cooperation with the private sector. CM said that the development of Gwadar city would be priority under the CPEC project.
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Gwadar has central importance in the CPEC project. It is a hub of connectivity for the Corridor and an indispensable interchange for the Silk Route. Through the development of the deepsea port of Gwadar, adjacent cities will also be developed. The local population will be provided with the better opportunities for their livelihood.
All listed projects for the Gwadar Port city are pursuing their supreme objective to capacitate Balochistan to its full economic, social, and technical and energy potential. “Gwadar Port City” under CPEC consisted of ten projects namely; Gwadar Eastbay Expressway (19 km, connecting Gwadar Port to Mehran Coastal Highway), Gwadar New International Airport, Gwadar Free Zone, Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan, Expansion of Multi-purpose Terminal including Breakwater and Dredging, Gwadar Eastbay Expressway II (19 km, connecting Eastbay Expressway I to New Gwadar International Airport), Fresh Water Supply, Wastewater Treatment Plants for Gwadar City, China-Pakistan Faqeer Primary School Project, Gwadar Pak-China Friendship Hospital Up gradation and Gwadar Pak-China Friendship Technical and Vocational College. China-Pakistan Faqeer Primary School Project is 100 % complete and some have been just started.
This investment of Rs. 100 billion announced by the CM has potential to speed up the development process of abovementioned projects. The proposal of partnerships between private and public sectors would facilitate the progress of the project.
Gwadar city has great geo-strategic and geo-political importance but now with the combined efforts of China and Pakistan, it will emerge as a key player in international trading. The successful implementations of these projects depend upon a favorable security situation in Balochistan.
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This investment of Rs. 100 billion announced by the CM has potential to speed up the development process of abovementioned projects. The proposal of partnerships between private and public sectors would facilitate the progress of the project. The government and the private sector are also working effortlessly to build up the city. Living standards of the city are improving with GDA New housing scheme. Experts believe that in the coming 10 years, Gwadar will evolve into a prospering and self-sustaining city, perfect for both luxurious living and expanding businesses.