Gwadar to become fully operational in three years: Pak min

EghtesadOnline: Pakistan Minister for Ports and Shipping says although big ships have started coming at Gwadar port but it will take three more years to become fully operational.

News ID: ۷۷۳۶۲۳

01 February 2017

In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo said, 'Purpose of the visit of Chinese trucks convoy from China's Kasghar to Pakistan's Gwadar in November 2016 was to symbolize the enhanced trade activity between China and Pakistan and it does not mean that Gwadar has become fully operational.

The minister added despite some views that say Gwadar and Chabahar ports are competing each other, the official position of Pakistan is that these two are sister ports and can benefit from each other.

“In Pakistan, we don’t have any reservation to make Gwadar and Chabahar as sister ports. These two ports can support each other, we could benefit from Chabahar and Chabahar could benefit from us,” he said.

The minister also stresses upon the need for building more road and rail networks with Iran to further enhance bilateral ties.

The official expressing his views said there is a need to build road and rail links between Gwadar and Chabahar so that both ports can help each other in transportation of goods.

He further said that Pakistan is ready to start ferry service from Karachi and Gwadar to the Iranian port city of Chabahar.

“If Iranians wants to come with a joint venture or they want to run their own ferry between Karachi, Gwadar and Chabahar, we are ready for that,” he said.

He added Pakistan is also trying to start ferry service to Oman and Dubai but Chabahar is the priority because millions of people from Pakistan go to religious places in Iran.