ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s first man-made Island is to be built in Gwadar at acost of over $10 Billion. The ‘Chaand Taara’ shaped islands representingPakistan’s flags moon and star will form the cities of the Central BusinessDistrict.
Located the Marine Drive and stretching towards Zero Point on the CoastalHighway, the Central Business District is to include a state of the artamusement park, Art & Culture Museum, Grand Theatre, Concert Hall,International Expo Centre, 5* Hotels & Resorts, Multiple Shopping Malls andWaterfront Walk and Shopping Promenade to name a few.
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The mega-development which will be built around the Gwadar Tower expectedto be Pakistan’s tallest building has been detailed in the Gwadar SmartCity Masterplan. The 75-page detailed report which has been underdevelopment by the China Communications Construction Company a Chinesestate-owned enterprise with assets of over $132 Billion and the Governmentof Pakistan as a joint-venture project.
The 75-page master plan document, prepared by Chinese state-owned companyChina Communications Construction Company in conjunction with Pakistan’sMinister of Planning, Development & Reform and Gwadar Development Authorityand shared with this reporter, chalks out an elaborate road map and plan onhow Gwadar is to become the trade and economic hub of South Asia with a GDPper capita of $15,000 – 10 times that of Pakistan’s average.
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The Government of Pakistan and China project Gwadar’s economy to surpass $30Billion per annum in the long-term, creating 1-1.2 Million high paid jobswith an income per capita of $15,000. Pakistan’s current income per capitameaning the economic output the country generates per person is around$1500 which Gwadar will eclipse by some 1000%.
According to Gwadar’s new master plan, the city will become the fulcrum ofeconomic development in western Pakistan, the main port in westernPakistan, one of the westward sea routes in western China, the five CentralAsian countries and the trade centres of Afghanistan, South Asia and theneighbouring Middle East.
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Megaprojects include a $5 billion investment into Gwadar’s power sectorwith 15 new power plants, $1 billion invested into generating 700,000 m3 offresh water per day through desalination plants, a man-made island, centralbusiness district, Pakistan’s tallest building all in a tax-freeenvironment where life can be enjoyed whilst avoiding taxes.
Think Dubai but on a much larger scale and in a quicker time frame, themaster plan details how Gwadar will become the economic hub of not onlyPakistan but the entire South Asian region.
Gwadar is set to see a massive influx of skilled workers and high poweredexecutives as it gears up to become the technological, industrial andhigh-tech service hub of South Asia. According to the recently releasedGwadar smart port city master plan Gwadar’s economic output is expected toexceed $30 Billion whilst creating up to 1.2 Million jobs for skilledworkers and professionals.
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The master plan details international exhibition centres, multiple themeparks, luxury 5* resorts, botanical gardens and museums in a thrivingmodern city economy all within Pakistan’s first ‘weapon-free’ city.
Pakistan’s current trade and economic hub of Karachi sees an estimated 65million tonnes of cargo through the port each year and with Gwadareclipsing that by 2030 as the key route for trade with the Middle-East,Afghanistan, Central Asia and China, the city is expected to become theregions leading trade centre.
With a population of some 15 million people, Karachi is Pakistan’s tradecentre however in Gwadar the population is expected to rise to only twomillion yet with trade exceeding Karachi we can expect high standards ofliving in Pakistan’s first ‘tax-free’ and ‘weapon-free’ city.
Gwadar will require some 15,800 new homes by 2025, 47,600 by 2030 and254,500 by 2050 according to the new Gwadar Smart City Master Plan. Atax-free haven with high technology industries, man-made islands, scienceand technology parks, 5* beach resorts, concert venues, exhibition centres,shopping malls and Pakistan’s first ‘weapon-free’ city will see Gwadareconomic output reach $30 billion per annum and population balloon to 2million residents resulting in a mega shortage of housing.
The current supply of quality housing in Gwadar’s is in the 100’s at mostand rental demand is burgeoning putting upward pressure on prices. With aban on new NOC’s for the last 5 years and limited supply within the privatesector coming through we can expect to see a massive boom in propertyprices in Gwadar in the coming years, unfortunately, resulting in a housingcrisis.
Pakistan’s first ‘tax-free’ haven Gwadar’s development will see thecrescent-shaped man-made islands representing Pakistan’s flag, grandtheatres, concert halls, cultural exchange centres, a university city,lakeside shopping mall, waterfront shopping and leisure promenades, parks,golden beaches, 5* hotels and cruise ships linking to Muscat, Dubai, Doha,Bahrain and Jeddah to name a few.
In line with Pakistan and China’s grand development plans for the Port Cityof Gwadar, the city will be Pakistan’s first weapon-free city. The city isbeing developed under the highest of international standards to be aneconomic hub not only for Pakistan but for the region and for this reason arobust security environment will be developed to ensure security forforeigners and expats coming to Gwadar.
The security plans include the highest levels of urban security mechanismsthrough CCTV, vehicle management, urban video and alarm networks, andpolice management programs.
Pakistan’s first dedicated high education centre and University City havebeen planned at the centre of Gwadar’s new masterplan. Built as a city ofthe future along the highest of international standard’s Gwadar will have adedicated University City focused on the technology and medical sectorsenabling locals of Gwadar and the expected two million population toeducate themselves in the most sophisticated environment.
Commenting on the report, Governor Baluchistan Amanullah Yasinzai said:“This project will be a game-changer for the people in the region. It willbring a lot of development and significantly raise the standard of livingof the people of Gwadar. I am hopeful that this project will bring hugeemployment opportunities for the youth of Baluchistan.”
