Gwadar airport, groundbreaking in 2016

ISLAMABAD: The groundbreaking of the Gwadar International Airport and Eastern Expressway projects, besides facilities of fresh water supply and distribution would be performed this year.

“We have completed all the formalities in this regard, while Chinese authorities are likely to complete their work soon to kick-start these projects,” sources in the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms said on Friday.

In Gwadar, Rs4.7 billion has been allocated from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), Rs4.7 billion for Eastern Expressway, Rs1.5 billion for New Gwadar International Airport and Rs1 billion for necessary facilities of fresh water treatment, water supply and distribution, etc.

The PC-1 of the Eastern Expressway has been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on January 12, 2015 and it was a 19km six-lane expressway with two-way railway tracks.  The expressway would provide immediate and uninterrupted connectivity to the Gwadar Port terminals with the Mehran Coastal Highway in the first phase and with the new Gwadar International Airport, in the second phase.

An amount of Rs13.543 billion would be funded through the government of China’s concessional loan, whereas Rs0.519 billion would be arranged through local component, the sources added.

The sources said the Chinese government has agreed to provide 100 percent interest-free loan for the project. The selection of the Chinese company was made through limited bidding under the G2G framework.

The sources said the prime minister had accorded approval for the establishment of power station for ensuring smooth power supply to Gwadar and the work on this project would start soon. The 100MW power station would be run on dual fuel, oil and LNG, he added. To resolve the issue of fresh water supply, a water treatment plant would be set up at Gwadar.

The sources said the projects being completed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would usher in a new era of development and prosperity in the province. The Baloch youth would focus towards higher education after establishment of universities in Zhob, Turbat and Gwadar.