Robust development of Gwadar top priority PTI government: Bakhtiar

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar on Friday said that robust development of Gwadar under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a top priority of the new government, ARY News reported.

Expressing his views while presiding over a steering committee meeting on Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan at the Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform, the minister said that to develop Gwadar, government is specially focusing on rapid industrialization in the strategically located

Minister PD&R, while setting development of Gwadar as a short-term target, said that the area has a big potential to become a unit for export and get best out of blue economy.

Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar highlighted that Gwadar could be transformed into a transhipment hub to explore opportunities of blue economy. We need to have in place all prerequisites for that purpose which should include provision of water, energy, road and railway connectivity, he further added.

The minister also underscored the need for cutting-age planning to ensure overall urban and industrial development keeping in view the real potential of Gwadar which altogether is different from rest of Pakistan.

He stressed on a good governance model with more autonomy to ensure speedy decision making with respect to expediting the process of transformation and put Gwadar on the right track.

Secretary Planning, Development & Reform, Zafar Hasan, Project Director CPEC, Hassan Daud and officials from Government of Balochistan and Chinese companies attended the meeting.