ISLAMABAD – The Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment AbdulRazak Dawood Thursday said Gwadar port would provide huge opportunities tothe energy rich Central Asian Countries and Afghanistan for regional tradeconnectivity.
The government is prioritizing the economic integration to promote regionaltrade and connect the regional important trade players with the deep seaport Gwadar, the adviser Abdul Razak Dawood told this in his exclusiveinterview to the APP here.
Replying to question, he said that Central Asian Republic (CARs) aredemanding to providing them trade facilitation in Gwadar and Bin Qasim seaport for international and regional trade and providing them the facilityof the warehouse.
The Adviser said Deep Sea Port of Gwadar has its own Geo-Strategic andeconomic importance which is located at the centre of regional connectivityand a possible railway link from Gwadar to Kandhar and other parts ofAfghanistan.
He said Central Asia via Afghanistan can become a key trade andtransportation route for the entire region.
Razak Dawood said that Pakistan is actively participating in regionalforums of Central Asia Economic Cooperation (CAREC) and QuadrilateralTraffic in Transit Agreement (QTTA) so that maximum benefits could be takenwhen the Gwadar Port operates at full capacity in near future.
The Government of Afghanistan has requested Pakistan to provideCross-Stuffing Facility at Gwadar Port, he said.
He informed that when modalities are finalized by the Federal Board ofRevenue (FBR), ample employment opportunities will be generated for thelocal people.
He said development of Gwadar Port under China-Pakistan Economic Corridors(CPEC) will provide more opportunities to Pakistan in order to establishnew industries as huge investment has been pouring in under CPEC and itwill also provide the shortest possible route to the goods in transit.
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He said that with the improvement in Trans-shipment facilities at Gwadar,the whole dynamics of the regional connectivity would be changed.
The Adviser said that Gwadar is at strategic location giving China andCentral Asia an access to the Gulf Region and the Middle East.
He said that in future, it would be a main Sea-gate for the Central Asia.
It would also become easy to send products from Xinxiang and Central Asiancountries to other regions, he said.
Replying to another question, he said that this port is likely to reducetransport time for goods from Gwadar to Western China and the Central AsianRepublics by 60% to 70%.
Razak Dawood said that all possible steps are being taken by the Ministryof Commerce, in coordination with other stakeholders, to provide modernfacilities at Gwadar Port so that goods clearance time may be reduced asper the set international standards.
