GWADAR – In a histotic milestone Gwadar Port to start the commercialshipping activities for the first time in history of Pakistan.

The commercial shipping services from Pakistan’s pivotal Gwadar port wouldstart from tomorrow (Thursday) after which a weekly service for Dubai’sJebel Ali port would be launched.

Chairman and CEO of China Overseas Ports Holding Company, Zhang Baozhongwhile detailing the initiation of commercial services from Gwadar,expressed that the Cosco shipping lines would operate a cargo ship with acapacity of 5000 containers on the route.

‘The service has been designed in a manner to ensure to and fro movement ofgoods between Gwadar and any country” observed Baozhong.

The official claimed that contrary to other ports of Pakistan, thecontainers would be offloaded and cleared in less than 48 hours at theGwadar port and importers/exporters would not face storage space issueshere.

Let it be known that in January, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi hadinaugurated the first international ‘Gwadar Expo 2018’.

The event organized by Gwadar Development Authority along with ChinaOverseas Ports Holding Company was attended by foreign dignitaries,ambassadors and people from business community across the world.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister said that ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would not only benefit the two countriesbut also bring prosperity to the entire region.

The prime minister further pointed out that the significant bilateralproject of CPEC is the most important initiative nowadays in Pakistan andgave the country sustainable energy projects to overcome its energy crisis,adding that CPEC is also an opportunity for the region.

Speaking on the same occasion, Zhang Baozhong said with the construction ofthe free zone, the port city of Gwadar will become a big commercial hub inthe region, adding that the development of Gwadar would help to improvePakistan’s overall economy and people’s lives.

During the expo, the COPHC and the Balochistan local government signed fivecontracts:

Gwadar Poverty Alleviation Initiative COPHC (China Overseas Ports HoldingCompany Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.) & Gwadar District GovernmentSister PortAgreement between Tianjin and Gwadar PortAgreement between Sister CityPiung City and GwadarAgreement between PSO+ GITL + Gwadar PortAgreementbetween SECP and Free Zone CompanyAgreement between HATA Trade City andGwadar.