GAWADAR: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made a one day visit to Gawadar on Thursday and was received by Chief Miniser of Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri and Governor of Balochistan
Federal minister Lt. Gen. (Retd) Qadir Baloch, Ahsan Iqbal, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo and others were accompanied with him.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of CPEC projects the prime minister said that he was glad to see Gwadar turning into an international city.
He said “Gwadar is Pakistan and Pakistan is Gwadar”. Sharif said the Gwadar Port would have good impact on Balochistan and Pakistan as Gwadar have pivotal position in the economic corridor.
The prime minister unveiled plaques of projects that included Gwadar Free Zone which would be exempt from taxes for 23 years and cover an area of 2,300 acres. The infrastructure would be completed in a year’s time and is being constructed by China’s Overseas Port Holding Company.
He unveiled plaque for a Business Service Complex that would house offices of companies involved in export, import and trade. The building would later house a Container Terminal also.
He also inaugurated a school at Gwadar gifted by the Communist Party of China. It was constructed at a cost of USD 400,000 in a low-income area in six months.
He said Gwadar becoming an extremely important city of Pakistan. An airport with modern facilities, a water desalination plant and a power plant being built in the city.
He said the real estate business which once came to a grinding halt has now boosted and real estate prices in Gwadar have now increased thrice.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier inaugurated Sibi-Kohlu road in Sibi. The 174 kilometres long highway has been completed at a cost of Rs. 4.7 billion, government sources said.
The highway connects three districts of Balochistan including Barkhan, Kohlu and Sibi.
It will also link Balochistan with Punjab and help promote inter-provincial trade besides boosting public linkages, officials said.
Sharif will also perform ground breaking and inaugurate some important projects related to China Pakistan Economic Corridor in Gwadar.