The first phase of the special economic zone under the China-PakistanEconomic Corridor (CPEC) has been completed, and 43 Chinese companies aregoing to invest in it, while 200 more companies have also registered forinvestments.
This was announced by Zhang Baozhong, the Chairman of the China OverseasPorts Holding Company which operates the Gwadar Port, Express Tribunereported.link
He added that besides infrastructure and energy projects, variousindustries, including textiles, chemicals, automobiles, and Mobileslink will be set up in the Gwadar industrialzone, and that they will lead to more employment opportunities in theregion.——————————
Baozhong rejected the media reports about hindrances in the CPEC projectsand clarified that the work on the project is in full swing withoutimpediments. He said that the Government of Pakistan is “extending fullcooperation,” adding that “despite the coronavirus pandemic, the pace ofwork has not slowed down and many CPEC projects have been completed aheadof time”.
He also announced that a liquefied natural gas terminal will be establishedat Gwadar Port, and that clad in Pakistan’s national attire, the “CPEC is agreat economic project. It is a symbol of the cohesive relationship betweenPakistan and China and a testament to our friendship.”——————————
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The newspaper also reported the Gwadar Development AuthorityDirector-General, Shahzeb Khan Kakar, as saying that the 2050 Master Planentailed resolving the water and electricity issues of the 150,000 peopleof Gwadar by the end of 2022.
He said, “Work is in full swing on a desalination plant which will convertfive million gallons of seawater into drinking water, and a 300 megawattscoal-fired power plant. Both the projects will be functional by January2023.”
The Chairman of the Gwadar Club, Brigadier (retd.) Asif Mehmood also spoketo the media saying, “Special security arrangements have been made in andaround Gwadar, which has led to peace in Balochistan.”
