Chinese President Xi Jinping will inaugurate the strategic airport in Gwadar, Pakistan during his upcoming visit. This was announced by Balochistan’s former caretaker chief minister and businessman Alauddin Marri during his visit to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Sunday.
Marri pointed out that Gwadar and other coastal areas of Balochistan, including Turbat and Makran, will soon be connected to the national grid with a supply of 100 megawatts of electricity from Iran. The strategic facilities in Gwadar offer huge business opportunities for local and foreign investors in various sectors, such as services, fisheries, petrochemical, tourism, trade logistics, oil storage, refining, transport equipment, ship-breaking, food, building materials, home appliances, electronics, and IT.
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Marri invited an ICCI delegation to visit the port city to explore business and investment opportunities, which were echoed by ICCI President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, who stressed the importance of expediting the pace of development works in Gwadar, including the Special Economic Zone, to kick off business and investment activities. Bakhtawari also emphasized that Balochistan, rich in natural resources, should be provided with all necessary facilities to attract investment and reduce poverty and unemployment while bringing prosperity to the province.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPAC) is a mega project that aims to connect Gwadar Port to China’s Xinjiang province via highways, railways, and pipelines, and is considered a strategic project for both sides. It will provide electricity, infrastructure development, and modernization of transportation networks for Pakistan while addressing security concerns for China. The project is also aimed at reducing China’s dependency on the Malacca Straits and boosting trade between China and Europe.
It is pertinent to mention that the construction of Gwadar Airport is expected to be completed by September 2023 however, the test flight will be conducted on 23rd March, 2023.