GWADAR – Pakistan accomplished yet another milestone Monday and transformedthe dream of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into a reality bymaking the Gwadar Economic Free Zone operational, so as to optimallyachieve the potential of the port city.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi inaugurated the Gwadar Free Zone andthe Expo 2018 and reiterated that the ongoing policies of economicdevelopment would continue, no matter which party forms the nextgovernment; as these were aimed at development and prosperity and buildingthe nation.

He reiterated that the country would hold its next general election in Julythis year, after the completion of the five-year term of the PML-Ngovernment.

The Prime Minister termed the China Pakistan Economic Corridor a “gamechanger” and said the potential of Gwadar has been fully realized, owing tothe vision of President Xi Jinping and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.He said due to the dedication and hard work of Pakistani and Chinese teams,both the CPEC and Gwadar were heading towards a bright future.

Abbasi mentioned the ongoing modernization of the railway system fromKarachi to Peshawar, Khunjerab to Gwadar, upgrading of road network,building of necessary infrastructure, building of power projects andsetting up of Special Economic Zones to bring prosperity to the people ofPakistan through generation of economic activity, increase exports andcreation of jobs.He said connectivity through Gwadar, the new motorway networks would bringprosperity not only to Central Asian States, Western China, Afghanistan butalso Pakistan and strengthen President Xi’s vision of Belt and RoadInitiative.

He said Gwadar was the most visible section of this vision and termed itthe most important contribution of the Chinese President for the futuregenerations. He said the CPEC projects were based on financial viabilityand environmental sustainability and bring prosperity.

The Prime Minister recalled his recent visit to Davos where at one of theforum on “Shared future in a fractured world” he recalled pointing thatPresident Xi Jinping was building on linkages of the past for a future oftomorrow.

He appreciated the Gwadar Port Authority, Gwadar Development Authority andthe Chinese partners working on the project and said it would bringprosperity to Balochistan, Pakistan on the whole and the region as well.

Addressing the challenges of Balochistan, the Prime Minister said thefuture of the province was in the hands of its political leadership. Hesaid the provincial government needs to develop the entire coast line.

He said there was an urgent need to transform Gwadar into an internationalcity, which was fully functional and can serve the future demands of itspeople. He said the provincial government has to confront the challengesahead.He said the federal government would equally share in the equalizationpackage for Gwadar so as to provide quality services in health, educationand other social sectors for the people of Balochistan. In this regard hesaid funding for each district of Balochistan would start this year.

The Prime Minister later formally inaugurated the export free zone.Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo said Gwadar Expo was asignificant step towards the economic development of the port city and ofBalochistan. However he emphasized that local people must not be left outin the fast-paced journey of development.

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said completion of firstphase of Gwadar Free Zone was a major milestone towards achieving inclusiveand sustainable development in Balochistan in line with Pakistan Vision2025.

He said Gwadar port and the free zone projects were demonstration of thetime-tested friendship between Pakistan and China.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Hasil Khan Bizenjo said mainobjective of holding the Gwadar Expo 2018 was to highlight the significanceof Gwadar, to promote its Port and Free Zone as emerging business hub andto provide a platform of interaction between local, regional andinternational business entrepreneurs.

Chairman China Overseas Port Holding Company Zhang Baozhong said GwadarFree Zone was the demonstration of the hard work of the governments ofPakistan and China, which was a project of prosperity for the two nations.

He said his company was overwhelmed by the support of Pakistan’s federaland provincial governments, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and the localpeople.

He said Gwadar Free Zone during initial construction and production phase(year 2018-23) would provide job opportunities for more than 38,000 peopleand would help increasing Pakistan’s trade volume, Foreign DirectInvestment and national economy size.

The event was attended by President AJK Masood Khan, Chairman Joint Chiefsof Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chinese ambassador toPakistan Yao Jing and members of federal and provincial cabinet.