GWADAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday the government was considering reaching out to the estranged Baloch youths as the enemies of Pakistan had used them in the past, but the situation had now entirely changed, Radio Pakistan reported.
Talking to elders and notables of Gwadar, he said development of Balochistan was a top priority of his government, as he criticised the previous governments for neglecting the province. He emphasised the government was prioritising development in far-flung areas of Balochistan, northern areas and rural Punjab. Gwadar would emerge as the “focal point of development”, ensuring prosperity of the entire country, the Prime Minister said as he broke ground on the second phase of Gwadar Free Zone earlier in the day.
Prime Minister Khan, who arrived in Gwadar on a day-long visit, inaugurated the first phase of Gwadar Free Zone, besides performing the groundbreaking of its second phase, spreading over 2,200 acres, and opening of three factories.
The Prime Minister, speaking at the event, said his vision of an emerging Pakistan was a steadfast nation committed to the prosperity of the country. He said the government was focused on ensuring provision of basic amenities, including clean water and electricity to encourage industrialisation.
Khan said the recently announced Rs 730 billion development budget by the federal government for Balochistan was a historic step that was aimed at uplifting the province and mitigating the longstanding deprivation of its people. “No country can progress unless it mainstreams all its areas and ensure development across the board,” he said, adding connectivity was one of the major components of the Balochistan package.
The Prime Minister said one-window operation was in progress to facilitate investors. He urged the provincial governments to ensure proper servicing of investors since the subject moved to them after the passage of the 18th Amendment. He mentioned that Gwadar International Airport would encourage regional trade and boost economic activity.
Khan thanked China for launching water and solar projects in Balochsitan, particularly Gwadar. “Pakistan can benefit from its strategic location and also from the expertise of its friend China which is becoming an economic power in the region,” he said.
He also mentioned the technical education provided by China to the locals of Gwadar, which he said, would prove greatly helpful as the foreign investment grew in future. The Prime Minister mentioned several initiatives for the uplift of Gwadar, including a university, employment under Kamyab Jawan Programme, and the upgrading of the equipment of local fishermen to ensure value addition to their catch. He said the Prime Minister Office would regularly monitor the progress on the development plans initiated in Gwadar on a monthly basis.
The Prime Minister said regional countries had expressed interest in reaping the benefits offered by the Gwadar Port. In that scenario, he expressed concern over the law and order situation in Afghanistan, which, he said, was extremely important for the continuity of development.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan said the provincial government had been collaborating with the CPEC Authority to resolve the issues of customs. He drew attention to the problem regarding the relocation of locals along the Eastbay and mentioned that efforts were on for an amicable solution.
In his speech, Chinese Ambassador Non Rong said the cooperation between the governments of Pakistan and China had led the several projects to see the light of the day. He said over the past eight years, the two countries accelerated their pace on several projects related to civic amenities, particularly clean water and solar plants. He said Gwadar was a showcase of the Chinese solution and model for Pakistan’s development.
By taking a comprehensive way of development, Gwadar Port would turn into a business hub, he said, adding China would continue to extend support for a shared future with Pakistan.CPEC Authority Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa said the Gwadar Free Zone spread at 60 acres had been completed, where 46 enterprises were operational. He said now the groundbreaking of the second phase was starting which would usher in a new era of prosperity in Gwadar and Balochistan.
Lt-Gen Bajwa said there was an increase in conspiracies against CPEC, but, he added, the commitment of the government greatly helped thwart such challenges.Earlier, the Prime Minister before landing at the Gwadar Airport took an aerial view of the infrastructure built at the seaport, including the Expressway.
On his arrival at the China Business Centre Hall, he was given a detailed briefing of the South Balochistan Development Package. He also held an interaction with the CPEC Workforce.Moreover, seven regional countries — Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Kenya and Qatar — on Monday expressed their commitment for cooperation on the development of Gwadar. With their respective ambassadors present at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Khan, the regional countries showed their support for the development of Pakistan’s port city.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of two MoUs with the government of China for carrying out development projects in Gwadar.The accords included the implementation agreement on setting up of 1.2 MGD desalination plant to resolve the shortage of drinking water for the residents of Gwadar. Other agreements included China’s grant for solar generators for South Balochistan, and the groundbreaking of North Gwadar Free Zone and Enterprises.
Also on the occasion, the Chinese investors through video-link from Shanghai showed the “Expression of Commitment for Investment”.Those who pledged to invest in Balochistan’s different sectors included Huang Weiguo (textile), Huang Daoyuan (prefabricated technology), Fang Hongyan (agriculture), Shen Jian (wool spinning), David Dia and Chen Yi (dairy processing) and Bao Dequan (textile).
The factories inaugurated on the occasion included chemical fertiliser factory, Gwadar animal vaccination factory and lubricant factory, besides the opening of Gwadar Tissue Plant Laboratory.