Gwadar was in possession of the ruler of Muscat
ever since 1797. Pakistan purchased it from him for a sum of Rs 90 million in
1958 and made it a part of the province of Balochistan. It is situated at the
mouth of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and is 72 km west of the Iranian
border. The port has been constructed at a cost of $248 million. China has paid
$198 million while Pakistan has contributed $50 million. Having completed the
work, most of the 450 Chinese personnel have left for home. So far Phase I has
been completed. Work on the bigger Phase II will start in due course.
Gwadar port holds great promise for the people of
Balochistan in particular and the country at large. It can earn millions of
dollars every year and transform this sleepy village into a vibrant
international harbour. Thousands of people will be disembarking from the ships
and spending days and weeks in this town, spending money. Shopping and hoteling
will transform the town into a truly international city, all to the immediate
advantage of the Baloch. Even now more than 3 million people of the region have
been able to get all kinds of jobs. As per the declared policy of the
government the local people of Gwadar, Panjgur, Pasni and Ormara have been
given priority in various employment opportunities. Technical training centers
have been set up where local people have been given preference to get training
in various skills and vocations. These centers are providing training to middle
pass, matriculate, intermediate, graduate and post graduate degree holders in
various categories of skills, all to the advantage of the local people.
China’s eastern seaboard is 3500 km away from
Kashghar, western China’s main city. The distance from Kashghar to Gwadar is
only 1500 km. Thus using Gwadar as the gateway port to the Western China will
result in huge economic advantage to it. This explains why China has so eagerly
helped Pakistan to develop Gwadar as a deep sea port and a highway-link from
Gwadar to central Balochistan town of Khuzdar on the RCD highway connecting
Karachi and Quetta. China is also considering widening the KKH on the Pakistani
side to make it an all weather highway. China will also build a 90 km
highway-link on Chinese side that will connect KKH to Russian built highway
network that already interconnects five Central Asian States. Pakistan would
reap enormous economic benefits from this overland trade route and people of
Balochistan will be the main beneficiaries. This will also boost trade between
Pakistan and Iran.
China is serious about bringing its western region
economically at par with its eastern part This will have enormous spillover
effects in favour of Balochistan. China has now again take over the Saindak
copper and gold project in Balochistan’s Chaghai district. China’s financing c
Makran coastal highway has prompted Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab
Republics to offer about $1 billion for the development of other
infrastructure. These developments ha\ encouraged Australia to invest $2
billion for mining copper at Rekodek, an area near Saindak This will, increase
annual copper production to 60 thousand tons. The government should make. sure
that benefits of these economic developments accrue to the common man and
province as whole. Sardars as the middlemen and self-styled spokesmen of the
people should not be permitted to fill their own treasure chests with this
wealth.