Factories in Gwadar

This refers to the news report, ‘Four Gwadar factories to come online by December: GPA’ (Mar 30). The government of Pakistan in collaboration with the Chinese authorities is beefing up efforts to start production activities in at least four factories in Gwadar by December 2017. A Pakistani automobile company, which has already established strong footholds in Chinese market, is also among them. We should invite other countries too – especially EU countries - besides China to set up their factories for the manufacture of high-value items through open competition. Let’s utilize each and every dollar of the loan given by China for CPEC projects judiciously through an open competition. Spending this loan on buses and trains, outside CPEC, should be avoided.

There are apprehensions that the factories which would be set up under the CPEC projects would adversely affect the marketing of the products which are already being manufactured locally. If it happens, let it be. This way, our factories would be compelled to manufacture items according to the international quality standards. With the establishment of the factories by the foreign clients, Pakistan would be introduced to new manufacturing and marketing techniques. Also, the manufacturers who set up their factories in Pakistan should be bound to employ at least 25% local manpower which should be selected on merit by the manufacturers.

Air-Cdre (r) Azfar A Khan

Karachi