Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Monday, performed the groundbreaking of phase two of the Gwadar Free Zone (GFZ). Under the initiative, he launched several other development and infrastructure projects. including an expo center, an agriculture industrial park, and three factories.
During the one-day trip that received extensive media coverage, Imran Khan also inaugurated phase one of GFZ besides reviewing the progress of development projects and supervising the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs).
He also received a detailed briefing on the progress of the south Balochistan development package for the uplift of the province.
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During the trip, the following projects were launched:
- Gwadar Fertilizer Plant
- Gwadar Animal Vaccine Plant
- Henan Agricultural Industrial Park
- Hengmei Lubricants Plant
- Gwadar Free Zone Phase Two
- Gwadar Expo Centre
The following MoUs were signed:
- Implementation agreement of 1.2 million gallons per day desalination plant
- Solar generators grant from China for South Balochistan.
PM Imran Khan unveiled the plaque for the following mega projects in Gwadar
1. Gwadar Fertilizer Plant
2. Gwadar Animal Vaccine Plant
3. Henan Agricultural Industrial Park
4. Hengmei Lubricants Plant
5. Gwadar Free Zone Phase 2
6. Gwadar Expo Centre#GwadarRisingWithCPEC pic.twitter.com/EHaLpbvWro— Imran Ghazali | #DigitalStrategy (@ImranGhazaliPK) July 5, 2021
While addressing the launch ceremony, the premier lamented that due to the poor planning in the past, several areas of Balochistan had been left behind in development. He said that the development plans of Gwadar have been on the cards for quite some time now but lacked implementation due to the unavailability of electricity, gas, and water supply.
“But in the time we are now seeing ahead, Gwadar is going to become a focal point from which all of Pakistan and especially Balochistan which was left behind [in development] will benefit,” he added.
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He termed these projects the ‘future of Gwadar,’ noting that the construction of the new international airport will connect the city to other areas.
PM inaugurating north free zone of gwadar. It is 35 times bigger than the phase 1 industrial zone of gwadar. This reflects growing interest of chinese & other investors in gwadar free zone. Chinese investors addressed gathering thru videocon from shanghai #GwadarRisingWithCPEC
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) July 5, 2021
The premier reiterated that a meaningful development can’t take place without development in all areas, adding that the government’s focus is to develop neglected areas such as erstwhile FATA, Balochistan, northern areas, and western districts of Punjab.
Further, the premier also announced several human development initiatives such as a technical college, a hospital, a university, cheap loans for farmers and poor households, and a program for the uplifting of Gwadar’s fishermen.
