ISLAMABAD: Alauddin Marri, Balochistan’s former caretaker Chief Minister announced that Xi Jinping, the Chinese President will inaugurate the strategic airport in Gwadar on his upcoming trip to Pakistan.
Marri in a visit to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said that Turbat and Makran as being the coastline areas of Baluchistan are not connected with the national grid. However, Marri, added soon that 100 megawatts of electricity will be supplied from Iran.
He highlighted that Gwadar’s strategic facilities provide substantial business prospects for both domestic and foreign investors across various industries, including services, fishing, petrochemicals, tourism, trade logistics, oil storage and refining, transportation equipment, ship-breaking, food, construction materials, consumer electronics, and information technology.
Moreover, he also said, that the strategic airport of Gwadar will open a new horizon for more business opportunities for both national and international investors. Including several sectors like fisheries, petrochemical, trade, oil storage, tourism, refining, home appliances, electronics, and IT, he said.
Marri called it a good chance for investors to come to Gwadar and benefit from its economic prospects and invited a delegation from the ICCI to visit the city and examine business and investment opportunities.
At the event, ICCI President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari promised Marri that the ICCI would take a group to Balochistan to meet with top officials, including the chief minister, governor, and Quetta corps commander, to investigate business opportunities in Gwadar. Bakhtawari emphasized the need to hasten the progress of development projects in Gwadar, including the Special Economic Zone and other necessary infrastructure, to enable business and investment activities.
In order to encourage investment and reduce poverty and unemployment while bringing wealth to the area, Bakhtawari noted that Balochistan is rich in natural resources and that the government should give the amenities required by potential investors.
New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA)
The New Gwadar International Airport is a new airport being constructed in Gwadar, Pakistan, and will be managed by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. The airport is part of a joint venture between Pakistan, Oman, and China and will handle both domestic and international flights. The construction of the airport is a component of the $56 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, which is a key part of China’s One Belt One Road initiative.
The airport is located 9 miles north of Gwadar city center and will occupy 4,300 acres of land. It is fully funded by China and has a cost of $246 million. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, laid its foundation in 2019. Gwadar International Airport will be the second greenfield airport after the Islamabad International Airport, which was built in 2018.
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