Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Naseer Khan Kashani said that development of ports is a technical and time consuming task and it will take around 20-25 years to develop the Gwadar Port.
He said this in an interview with Geo TV journalist Yasir Habib Khan.
“Since the Gwadar port will be a world-class facility it requires high-tech coastal engineering, state-of-the-art dredging and modern craftsmanship,” Naseer said, adding that the key project was the Gwadar International Airport.
He said that several projects including the East-Bay Expressway, a Free Zone to spur economic growth, dredging of berthing areas and channels and coal-based power plants were in different stages of completion and it will take over 2 decades to develop a fully functional Gwadar Port.
Naseer said that the port will greatly benefit China’s Belt and Road Initiative and will open avenues for cheaper trader and faster communication. “Right now, China’s exports and imports have to travel around 10,000 kilometres from the Persian Gulf to China’s eastern region.”
To a question regarding Iran’s Chaubahar port posing ‘threat’ to Gwadar, Naseer said that it was not possible because of Gwadar’s geo-strategic position and China’s expertise. He said Gwadar Port will offer a trade outlet for the land-locked Central Asian countries, western China and Afghanistan.
Speaking about the potential of tourism in the region, the chairman said that Gwadar was the land of unexplored beaches and warm waters, but there were things that needed to be ensured before tourism could be allowed in the region.
He said this in an interview with Geo TV journalist Yasir Habib Khan.
“Since the Gwadar port will be a world-class facility it requires high-tech coastal engineering, state-of-the-art dredging and modern craftsmanship,” Naseer said, adding that the key project was the Gwadar International Airport.
He said that several projects including the East-Bay Expressway, a Free Zone to spur economic growth, dredging of berthing areas and channels and coal-based power plants were in different stages of completion and it will take over 2 decades to develop a fully functional Gwadar Port.
Naseer said that the port will greatly benefit China’s Belt and Road Initiative and will open avenues for cheaper trader and faster communication. “Right now, China’s exports and imports have to travel around 10,000 kilometres from the Persian Gulf to China’s eastern region.”
To a question regarding Iran’s Chaubahar port posing ‘threat’ to Gwadar, Naseer said that it was not possible because of Gwadar’s geo-strategic position and China’s expertise. He said Gwadar Port will offer a trade outlet for the land-locked Central Asian countries, western China and Afghanistan.
Speaking about the potential of tourism in the region, the chairman said that Gwadar was the land of unexplored beaches and warm waters, but there were things that needed to be ensured before tourism could be allowed in the region.