CPEC 2022: Gwadar remains most prominent feature of Sino Pak ties

Editor's Note: This article only reflects the opinion of the author, not necessarily of Gwadar Pro.

 

In an overall perspective and speed of growing Sino-Pak relations in year 2022, Gwadar sea port attracted major focus giving boost to trade and economic growth in Pakistan. Since the inception of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Gwadar has become the most visited city in Baluchistan. It has been promoted as the center stage for CPEC.

Gwadar Pro contacted a cross section of people to know the breakthrough development of bilateral ties in the outgoing year. They unanimously mentioned Gwadar as a hub of activity during the year.

While talking to Gwadar Pro a famous business tycoon and President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that the traders of the capital and the rest of the country are looking forward to various prospects from Gwadar port for their future interactions particularly with central Asian countries.

President Islamabad citizens committee (ICC), Syed M. Siddiq Hasan described the rapid development of Gwadar port as a major achievement of the present government. He noted that thousands of people particularly from the local areas benefitted from the port in terms of jobs and social facilities in the health and education sector.

Gwadar developments during the year 2022

Although the city is set to experience many changes and developments over the next couple of years, following are some of the major developments in Gwadar during the outgoing year.

In early 2022, the Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Gwadar Chamber of Commerce & Industry agreed to utilize Gwadar Port for Afghan transit trade. The chambers also agreed to take measures to boost bilateral trade.

Gwadar Port was formally empowered to handle and process 450,000 metric tons import of wheat as an official agreement between the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and Gwadar International Terminal Limited (GITL) was inked.

Furthermore, AP Sveti Vlaho, a mega vessel carrying 8,000 tons of DAP fertilizers for Afghan transit was berthed at Gwadar port, paving the way for enhanced port traffic.

The Cultivation of king grass, Moringa and other environmentally-adoptable plants in large areas was started. Sprinkle method of irrigation was also adopted successfully.

Work on establishing a fertilizer factory in Gwadar North Free Zone successfully kick-started. The remarkable project upon completion will facilitate industrialization in Gwadar and offer hundreds of job opportunities for the local youth. The industry will export locally-processed fertilizers to Pakistan and the International market.

China's Hangeng Agricultural Group, which is building an agricultural industrial park in Gwadar, received the first container of raw medicines from Africa.

Scientific Research Center applying sophisticated tissue culture and cloning techniques produced several banana varieties. The laboratory is elegantly paving the way for enhanced agribusiness in Gwadar and Baluchistan.

In March, a new era of technical know-how for the residents of Gwadar began. Pak-China Vocational and Technical Institute formally kick-started producing indigenous skilled manpower and professionals in the field of port management.

On March 10, the signing ceremony for a desalination plant was held at Gwadar Business Centre, with a capacity of 1.2 m gallons, to significantly reduce the water supply-demand gap.

This remarkable gift for the people of Gwadar was a testament of China's commitment towards developing Gwadar. The work on the desalination plant remained in full swing during the year 2022. The plant is anticipated to provide 5,000 tons of fresh water.

In April Gwadar commenced its foremost LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) Terminal.

The installation of Chinese-aided 3,000 units of solar panels to low income Gwadar residents also began. Till 11th April, 629 sets were successfully installed.

In May, Pakistan Energy Development Conference 2022 was successfully held at Gwadar Business Centre.

On June 23rd 2022, the China-aided Eastbay Expressway of Gwadar port was inaugurated in Gwadar city of Pakistan. The 19.49-km expressway linking the port to the coastal highway was an important early harvest project under CPEC.

The main capping structure of China Southern Product Expo and Trading Center in Gwadar Free Zone was officially completed. The infrastructure will be functional by early 2023 and will host grand business exhibitions.

As part of COPHC's youth engagement program, more students from local schools in Gwadar were welcomed and comprehensively briefed on socio-economic projects. Students participated in extracurricular activities and cherished the imperishable friendship between China and Pakistan.

Recently, a delegation of East Sea Group Limited (ESGL) visited Gwadar Port and Free Zone to meet with the leadership of COPHC and Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) to work out a framework for the establishment of a multi-billion-dollar Ship-to-ship oil blending facility.

ESGL plans to establish a 3 million-ton ship-to-ship (STS) oil blending facility at sea space in connection with a $4.5 billion oil refinery project in Gwadar. After the venture materializes, Pakistan will earn $ 20,000 to $ 40,000 annually.

At the end of the year the construction of the 4,600-ton steel structure of the main terminal of Gwadar International Airport was completed. The construction of the metal welded roof and interior, and the installation of electromechanical equipment are underway.

Notables visit to Gwadar

To witness its rapid development and outcome on Sino-Pak relations, numerous delegations including members of academia, business community, diplomats and journalists visited Gwadar port and the city that is central to the success of CPEC.

Early in 2022 Secretary Agriculture and Secretary Information Baluchistan along with senior officials of Agriculture Department paid a visit to various facilities in Gwadar Free Zone.

Secretary Planning and Development Abdul Aziz Uqaili also called on officials of COPHC. Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Agha Hassan Baloch and Federal minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal also visited Gwadar Port and Free Zone.

Chinese Charge d' Affairs Pang Chunxue, Chinese Consul General to Karachi Li Bijian and other Chinese diplomatic staff also visited Gwadar during the outgoing year and were briefed on various commercial and socio-economic activities undertaken by COPHC.

In June 2022 Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on a day-long visit to Gwadar, laid the foundation stone of several projects and inaugurated several. He also held meetings with Chinese officials to review the progress of port and Gwadar Free Zone.

PM Shahbaz Sharif's 2nd visit to Gwadar in a month's period also followed by the agreement with Iran for provision of 100 MW electricity to Gwadar. An MoU was signed between GDA and Indus Hospital to administer the Chinese constructed 300-bed hospital.

In December 2022, German Ambassador to Pakistan Alfred Gannas, Dr. Rudiger Lotz, Consul General, and Christian Bottcher First Secretary of the Embassy of Germany visited Gwadar Free Zone. Chairman COPHC briefed the visiting dignitaries on COPHC's commercial and socio-economic activities.

At the end of the year, Commander West Rear Admiral Imtiaz Ali SI visited Women Garments Factory in Gwadar Free Zone and appreciated Chairman Zhang Baozhong's vision of women empowerment. Both sides contemplated a collaborative skill development program by imparting vocational training for the local women.