ISLAMABAD – Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdoom KhusroBakhtiar Friday said that robust development of Gwadar under China PakistanEconomic Corridor (CPEC) was top priority of the PTI government with aspecial focus on rapid industrialization in the strategically located PortCity.
He expressed these views while presiding over a steering committee meetingon Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan at the Ministry of Planning,Development & Reform.
Secretary Planning, Development & Reform, Zafar Hasan, Project DirectorCPEC, Hassan Daud and officials from Government of Balochistan and Chinesecompanies attended the meeting.The Minister was briefed on Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan.
“We cannot afford to wait any longer as our economy does not have theluxury of time. Industrialization in this Port City is a low hanging fruit,considering its prospect of international connectivity and suitable cost oftransportation”, he added.“We need to structure the Gwadar Industrial Zone with a kind of incentivesthat yield high rateof return.
The minister while setting development of Gwadar as a short-term target,said that the areahas a big potential to become a unit for export and get best out of blueeconomy.Bakhtiar highlighted that Gwadar could be transformed into a transhipmenthub to explore opportunities of blue economy.
Read Top Stories
“We need to have in place all prerequisites for that purpose which shouldinclude provisionof water, energy, road and railway connectivity,” he added.
The minister also underscored the need for cutting age planning to ensureoverall urban and industrial development keeping in view the real potentialof Gwadar which altogether is differentfrom rest of Pakistan.
He also stressed on a good governance model with more autonomy to ensurespeedydecision making with respect to expediting the process of transformationand put Gwadar on the right track.
