PM directs urgent steps to operationalise Gwadar Port

PM Shehbaz Sharif Orders Immediate Measures to Commercially Operationalize Gwadar Port

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed immediate steps to commercially operationalize the Gwadar Port.

Chairing a federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister announced the formation of a committee, led by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, to collaborate with stakeholders and transform Gwadar into a modern port. He also emphasized the need for an international conference to highlight the port’s strategic importance. “A well-structured marketing and awareness campaign, along with diplomatic efforts, is essential to showcase Gwadar Port’s potential,” he stated.

The planning minister briefed the cabinet on the port’s advantages, noting that it offers cost-effective and time-efficient access to the Persian Gulf for vessels up to 50,000 Deadweight Tonnage. The port’s deep-sea capacity can significantly benefit China’s western regions and Central Asian states. Additionally, Gwadar Port is poised to drive growth in Balochistan’s mineral and aquaculture sectors. The Gwadar free zone has also been granted exemption from all federal, provincial, and local taxes.

Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that from 2018 to 2022, the port’s depth was compromised due to mismanagement during dredging. However, extensive dredging efforts in 2022-23 successfully restored its original depth. The cabinet was informed that ongoing work aims to connect Gwadar with the M-4 motorway, linking it to the national railway network. The planning minister further proposed integrating Artificial Intelligence to modernize the port’s cargo inspection system.