Chinese President Xi to Inaugurate Gwadar Airport
Alauddin Marri, former Caretaker Chief Minister of Baluchistan, stated while visiting the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) that Chinese President Xi Jinping will inaugurate the Gwadar airport during his upcoming visit to Pakistan.
He spoke about the strategic position of Baluchistan and the significance of Gwadar port. Both domestic and foreign investors have access to a wide range of business opportunities in Gwadar, including those in the service sector, fisheries, petrochemical, tourism, trade, logistics, processing and manufacturing, including the assembly of oil storage and refining equipment, transport equipment, ship breaking, food and building material processing, home appliance manufacturing, electronics, and IT industry.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPAC) is a mega project that aims to connect Gwadar Port of Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang province via a network of Highways, railways, and Pipelines. The project length is about 3 0000 Km, running from Gwadar of Baluchistan to Kashghar.
The project is strategic for both sides. For Pakistan, it will provide electricity to overcome the shortfall, infrastructure development, modernize transportation networks and develop the province’s economic situation.
On the other hand, it will address the security concerns of China in a turbulent Xinjiang region, which Muslim separatists of native Uyghurs influence.
Moreover, the port has increased China-Pakistan strategic relations. The project aimed to reduce China’s dependency on Malacca Straits between Malaysia and Indonesia, and it considers a shortcut for boosting trade between China and Europe.
Additionally, Baluchistan is rich in natural resources. According to Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President of ICCI, the government should concentrate on providing all necessary facilities to potential investors to encourage investment that would lower poverty & unemployment and bring prosperity to the province.