#gwadar port free zone

[liamhen5]

Strategic Dynamics of Chabahar and Gwadar Ports: The Role of Private Indian Companies and Cargo Berths

Introduction

Iran Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran and Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan are two strategic maritime gateways in the region, each backed by different international stakeholders with varied geopolitical and economic interests. Chabahar, with substantial investments from private Indian companies, and Gwadar, heavily financed by China, are pivotal in the emerging trade and transport networks of the region. This essay delves into the significance of Chabahar Port, the involvement of Indian private companies, its comparison with Gwadar Port, and the role of cargo berths in these ports.

Chabahar Port: A Strategic Asset

Chabahar Port, situated on the Gulf of Oman, is Iran's only oceanic port, providing direct access to the Indian Ocean. This geographical advantage makes it a strategic asset for Iran, enabling it to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that has historically been a chokepoint for global oil supplies. The port serves as a crucial link in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), aiming to connect India, Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia through a multi-modal network of ship, rail, and road routes.

For India, Chabahar offers a direct route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. This not only enhances India's trade potential but also solidifies its strategic footprint in the region. The development of Chabahar Port is seen as a counterbalance to China's investment in Gwadar Port under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Role of Private Indian Companies

Private Indian companies have been instrumental in the development and operationalization of Chabahar Port. The involvement of these companies reflects India's commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and its strategic interests in the region.

India Ports Global Limited (IPGL): A consortium of private and public sector companies, IPGL is at the forefront of India's engagement with Chabahar. In 2016, IPGL signed an agreement to equip and operate two terminals and five berths at Chabahar Port. This marked a significant milestone in Indo-Iranian cooperation.

Infrastructure Development: Indian firms such as IRCON International and KEC International are involved in constructing and upgrading the infrastructure around Chabahar, including the rail link from Chabahar to Zahedan, which connects to the Iranian national railway network and further into Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Cargo Handling and Logistics: Indian logistics companies are setting up supply chains to manage the flow of goods through Chabahar. This includes developing specialized cargo berths to handle various types of cargo efficiently, thereby increasing the port's operational capacity.

Investment in Industrial Zones: Private Indian firms are also exploring investment opportunities in the Chabahar Free Trade Zone (FTZ), which aims to attract foreign investment and foster industrial growth. This includes establishing manufacturing units, warehousing, and distribution centers.

Gwadar Port: A Chinese Foothold

Gwadar Port, located on the Arabian Sea in Pakistan, is a cornerstone of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Developed under the auspices of the CPEC, Gwadar provides China with a strategic outpost to secure its maritime trade routes and energy supplies. The port is intended to serve as a major transshipment hub, facilitating trade between China, the Middle East, and Africa.

Comparison Between Chabahar and Gwadar Ports

While both Chabahar and Gwadar Ports aim to enhance regional connectivity, their strategic orientations and developmental trajectories are distinct.

Geopolitical Context: Chabahar is central to India's strategy to access Central Asia and Afghanistan, circumventing Pakistan. Gwadar, conversely, is a linchpin of China's BRI, aimed at securing an overland route to the Arabian Sea, reducing reliance on the Malacca Strait.

Development and Investment: Gwadar has seen rapid development, with substantial Chinese investments leading to the construction of modern port facilities, an international airport, and supporting infrastructure. Chabahar's development, although progressing slower due to international sanctions on Iran, has gained momentum with Indian investments, particularly in port infrastructure and connectivity projects.

Strategic Rivalry: The development of these ports underscores the strategic rivalry between India and China. Chabahar provides India with a counterbalance to China's presence in Gwadar. This competition is reflected in the investment patterns, with each port receiving significant attention from its respective backers.

The Role of Cargo Berths

Cargo berths are critical components of port infrastructure, facilitating the loading, unloading, and storage of goods. Both Chabahar and Gwadar Ports have been developing specialized cargo berths to enhance their operational capacities.

Chabahar Port: The development of five new cargo berths at Chabahar by Indian companies has significantly increased the port's handling capacity. These berths are designed to accommodate various types of cargo, including bulk, container, and general cargo. The efficient handling of cargo at these berths is essential for reducing turnaround times and enhancing the port's attractiveness to traders.

Gwadar Port: Gwadar features multiple deep-water berths capable of handling large container ships. The port's design includes specialized berths for oil tankers, bulk carriers, and container vessels. These facilities are crucial for Gwadar's ambition to become a major transshipment hub in the region.

Economic and Strategic Implications

The development of Chabahar and Gwadar Ports has far-reaching economic and strategic implications for the region.

Regional Connectivity: Both ports aim to enhance regional connectivity by providing alternative trade routes. Chabahar's link to Afghanistan and Central Asia through the INSTC can significantly reduce transit times and costs for Indian goods. Gwadar, on the other hand, offers China a shorter route to the Middle East and Africa.

Economic Growth: The development of port infrastructure and associated industrial zones is expected to spur economic growth in the surrounding regions. This includes job creation, increased trade volumes, and the development of ancillary industries.

Geopolitical Influence: The strategic investments in these ports reflect the broader geopolitical contest between India and China for influence in South Asia and beyond. Chabahar strengthens India's position in Afghanistan and Central Asia, while Gwadar enhances China's influence in the Arabian Sea and the Middle East.

Security Considerations: The military potential of these ports cannot be ignored. Both ports have the potential to serve as naval bases, enhancing the maritime capabilities of their respective backers. This adds a layer of security dynamics to the strategic rivalry in the region.

Conclusion

The development of Chabahar and Gwadar Ports represents a significant shift in the geopolitical and economic landscape of the region. Chabahar, with substantial involvement from private Indian companies, offers India a strategic foothold in Afghanistan and Central Asia, countering China's influence through Gwadar. The role of cargo berths in both ports is pivotal in enhancing their operational efficiency and attractiveness to global traders. As these ports continue to develop, their impact on regional trade, connectivity, and geopolitics will become increasingly pronounced, shaping the future of South Asia and beyond.

[lahoreherald]

The yearly economic activity of Gwadar port will be $10 billion: Bajwa Asim Saleem

Following complete operational operation at Gwadar port and the Gwadar Free Areas, the Chairman of the Chinese Economic Corridor of Pakistan, Lt Gen. (retd), claimed Asim Saleem Bajwa, would produce around $10.000 each year’s economic activities, as well as create thousands of new employment.

Asim Bawa told the reporters here in a review of Gwadar Port and other CPEC projects, “Soon after completion of the free zone, a lot of manufacturing and commerce will begin, cargo will flow, and trans-shipment operations would grow,”

He stated, “The development effort in Gwadar will be monitored till all projects are completely functioning.”

Asim Bajwa stated the Chinese Port Holding Company has finished its infrastructure work for almost 300 million dollars, with all four loading stations fully functional.

Published in Lahore Herald #lahoreherald #breakingnews #breaking

[earthpaks]

Work on Gwadar Port Free Zone phase-1 completed

ISLAMABAD: The development activities of Gwadar Port Free Zone Phase-1 have finished with all infrastructure including power, water, and roads, and now operational.

According to the details, and economic survey for the year 2019-2020 issued on Thursday stated that more than 30 enterprises from various sectors, including banks, insurance, financial leasing, fishery products processing, pipe, edible oil processing, warehouses, furniture manufacturing, trade and logistics, electric vehicle assembly have already been registered in Gwadar Port Free Zone.

 The first deepest seaport in the country with a world-class maritime hub, Gwadar port is praise to Karachi Port and Port Qasim in order to stimulate the economic growth of Pakistan in general and Baluchistan in particular by better consumption of the available resources of the country.

 Gwadar Port is moreover providing a doorway for land-locked energy-rich Central Asian States, Western China, and Afghanistan through transit trade and offering transship services.

Earth Pakistan Property Portal

[nexthomepk-blog]

Investing in Gwadar, a good idea or not?

This is the hottest topic in recent years. Gwadar port is correspondingly enticing the interest of the foreign and local investors. The government has lately decided to set up a tax-exempt industrial area of international standard in Gwadar. The government is apparently offering more discounts to foreign investors for the improvement and development of second stage of Gwadar port project. In the past, a great number of countries, including those of the area, had conveyed their readiness to establish new projects in Gwadar and tax-free industrial area.

Is Investing In Gwadar A Good Idea?

The entrepreneurs and investors particularly from China, Central Asia, South Korea, Afghanistan, Singapore and Japan showed a keen concern in establishing industrial lands in Gwadar. South Korea and China and are believed to set up their duty-free special industrial development zones in Gwadar. This makes it a good opportunity to invest in Gwadar.

The rich financial specialists are being enticed into buying residential and commercial plots for sale in Gwadar as well as plots in industrial zones on payment under different packages. Read a good article about the revival of property market in Gwadar.

A completely operational Gwadar port will heighten industrialization process in the area. With the functioning of commercial and industrial zone, Gwadar would become a center of real estate and industrial activities.

Industries Establishing In Gwadar

Following industries are believed to be developed in Gwadar:

High-tech electronic fabrication and assembly plants;

Metal and wood fabrication and assembly;

Small manufacturing;

Fish processing & canning;

PVC housing & extrusion;

Re-packaging;

Life engineering;

Refrigeration & cold storages

Textile & garments;

Food & flour mills; and

Safe Return On Investment

The responsibility for security and safety of all investors and inhabitants of Gwadar will be in the hands of the military and Pakistan government. This is the reason why financial specialists are feeling confident about their security and safety in Gwadar. Being a financial specialist, your main goal is to look out for properties that will offer you a promising profit over coming years. This is where Gwadar Port scores profoundly over all other real estate ventures elsewhere in the country.

Future Of Gwadar

Ware housing, commercial plots, buildings, support services and other amenities have also been planned to foster industrial and commercial activity in the Gwadar city. Gwadar master plan also incorporates the setting up of flatted industries in order to provide facilities to the future small commercial and industrial enterprises in Gwadar. The multiple housing schemes for low-income groups and workers have also been planned.

What Next Home Recommends

Thus, there are industrial, residential and commercial properties in Gwadar that hold much importance in term of investment potential. Investing in GDA approved housing schemes such as Golden Lake Gwadar is recommended. For more information regarding residential properties for sale in this scheme, click here. It’s a profitable investment that might prove valuable in coming years. Our recommendation is to invest your hard earned money in the future’s most profitable investment.

[theeurasianpost]

Gwadar Free Zone: Irked by rupee slide, Chinese for accounts in RMB

Gwadar Free Zone: Irked by rupee slide, Chinese for accounts in RMB

ISLAMABAD: Disturbed with frequent depreciation of the Pak Rupee (PKR), Chinese investors in Gwadar have sought permission to maintain their bank accounts in RMB in Gwadar Free Zone without converting their money into Rupees, well informed sources told Business Recorder. This issue was raised by Chairman, China Port Holding Company Limited (COPHCL) at a meeting of Federal Steering Committee on…

[homestolive]

Gwadar International Airport: A World-class Destination Really Taking Shape

The arising port city of Gwadar in Balochistan has transformed into a hotbed for land and structure headways lately. It is a fundamental piece of the China Belt Road Initiative, secretly known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Projects like Marine Drive and Gwadar Cricket Stadium have extraordinarily added to the overall worth of the city, raising the costs of offices when contrasted with the House for sale in Rawalpindi.

In a bid to make Gwadar the greatest and most favorable streamlined trade zone in the area, a breathtaking scale worldwide air terminal undertaking is similarly being chipped away at by the trained professionals. The workplace has been imagined with the top level components to work with adjacent voyagers and overall adventurers, inspiring the meaning of the port city as an overall goal.

Latest Updates On Gwadar International Airport

Indisputably the primary arrangement and work plan for the Gwadar International Airport were introduced in 2017. In any case, it wasn't until March 2019 that the foundation of the assignment was laid with a high-profile memorable capacity went to by Prime Minister Imran Khan. Improvement work on the undertaking in like manner began in October 2019.

As indicated by another declaration made by the Secretary of Aviation Division Hassan Nasir Jamy, the headway work on the Gwadar air terminal is advancing at an agreeable speed, and the undertaking will be finished and utilitarian by the passed on cutoff time for instance September 2023. The undertaking will similarly bring various new business openings for nearby individuals. The Shop for sale in Rawalpindi is additionally an interesting issue nowadays.

Space Of Gwadar International Airport

The Gwadar air terminal participates in an inside and out related region. It is purposely connected with the Makran Coastal street through the course of Airport Road and Sabzi Mandi Road. The workplace is also beneficially open by Jinnah Avenue, which further associates it to the port and other key spaces of the city.

Expected Features Of Gwadar International Airport

The uber adventure of the forthcoming Gwadar air terminal is being made at a goliath scale, greater than essentially the wide scope of different worldwide and local air terminals in the space of Balochistan.

Like Jinnah International Airport, Allama Iqbal International Airport, and other relative offices the country over, Gwadar International Airport will moreover offer kinds of help to transporters and explorers from wherever on the planet including individuals with Offices for Sale in Rawalpindi.

To give overall explorers a beneficial and pleasurable experience, the air terminal is depended upon to be outfitted with the accompanying components:

Incredible passage with different entrances and security walkthroughs

Colossal chambers, open ways, and halls

Totally cooled inside

Astoundingly Secured office with Round-the-clock CCTV surveillance

Totally ready to keep it together locale for explorers with free Wifi administrations

Work environments of movement administrations, transporter associations, and concerned subject matter experts

Keeping in view the typical market designs in Pakistan, whenever a worldwide air terminal is made in a city, it distinctly impacts its property assessment. The very same thing has been expected by virtue of Gwadar.

The land costs in the port city are depended upon to notice a basic increase once the air terminal is finished and ends up being totally pragmatic. Financial sponsor have successfully started to take advantage of it very much like House for rent in Rawalpindi or some other large city.

Put Resources Into Canadian City Gwadar To Enjoy Profitable Investment Outcomes

Subsequently, assuming you are moreover searching for an opportunity to jump on the advantageous property market of Gwadar, then, you should think about putting assets into Canadian City, Gwadar. Furnished with cutting-edge offices and a remunerating region, this GDA-upheld adventure is a sublime theory decision in the following enormous financial focus point of South Asia.

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[indochinanews]

China starts work on Gwadar naval base

New Update: As per SCMP, this work has been put on Hold. It got too much bad publicity and made the Chinese enslavement Game Plan, which will discreetly be done.

SOMETIME around the first week of December, the residents of Gwadar woke up to find work taking place to build a large metal fence that would stretch from just north of the old airport and extend westward along a road known as the Balochistan Broadway Avenue. The total length of the fence would be 24 kilometers, and according to what the locals were able to gather, it is planned to extend in a straight line along the central divider of Broadway Avenue and then cut straight south to the sea. Along the way, it will cut two habitations of 30 to 40 houses into two parts, one part inside the fence and one outside.

The master plan for Gwadar includes three special zones, known as the Gwadar Port Free Zone (2,280 acres), GIEDA Industrial Zone (3,000 acres), and EPZA export processing zone (1,000 acres). As part of the infrastructure development program for these three zones, projects are envisioned, including roads, utilities, warehouses, and security. In the project description, fencing is given as one of the elements of the security plan.

But the strange thing is that the fence is being built nowhere near any of these three zones. Nobody knows who is building it since it does not feature in the provincial or federal development projects. Some press reports cite 'sources' saying it is being constructed at the behest of the Chinese, who are keeping a wary eye on the security situation in the region since three separate militant groups came under one umbrella in November 2018, and then went on to launch a series of assaults starting with the attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi, followed by the one on the Pakistan Stock Exchange building, and then a series of small ambushes on army and FC personnel in Kech, Turbat, Panjgur, Ormara, and so on.

However, it is not clear if the fence is indeed being built at the behest of the Chinese. Nowhere have the Chinese owned it themselves, and there is no public record of any Chinese demands for it, or references to it, in the recent past. But the following did happen.

Locals noted days after the construction of the fence, Senator Mir Kabir Mohammad Shahi of the National Party floated a sinister take at a press conference in Quetta. He said the fence is part of an attempt to separate Gwadar from Balochistan. He invoked memories of an older attempt under the Musharraf regime to bring Gwadar under the control of the federal government, reminded his audience of the federal government's attempt to seize the coastline and islands of Sindh and Balochistan via a presidential ordinance a few months ago, and said the fence would divide the city into two, with those who live on the outside requiring permits to be able to cross.

And then, days after this press conference, an online news agency that calls itself the 'Independent News Pakistan' seemed to carry a response. Its report quoted the Gwadar Port Authority chairman describing the fence as "a long-proposed desire that has come true now" that will enable "a transformation of Gwadar to become safer and more secure on modern age's demand." The report was carried by a number of Pakistani newspapers who treat the INP as a wire service.

That report aimed to distribute responsibility for the project widely and locally. "In collaboration with the army, Makran Administration, Gwadar Development Authority, Gwadar Port Authority, and Balochistan government, installation of iron fences will complete in phases," it said.

The same report quoted "a senior GDA official" whose words deserve to be scrutinized in full, so here they are reproduced exactly as they appeared in that INP report.

"Meanwhile, GDA senior official said that since Chinese people came here and exerted their energies to many assignments did not venture out to enjoy routine life in the streets and markets of Gwadar due to security issues. 'Recent terror attack at a private hotel in Gwadar had further limited their foot movement,' he added. 'They deserve a normal life free from all sorts of threats. After rigorous work, they need to go for outings and cherish great walks at the boisterous beaches of Gwadar. They must have an environment where they dine outside, enjoying and feasting their eyes on traditional Gwadar cuisines. They seek leisure time besides shopping spree with their families,' he added."

It is worthwhile to add that INP takes Chinese investments in Pakistan as a key focus. On its website claims, "[t]he INP has bilateral news exchange arrangements with China's State-run News Agency XINHUA and China Radio International (CRI)."

The INP report's language clarifies it has not been drafted by a Pakistani and is a direct response to the concerns around the fence, such as those of Senator Shahi. So let us ask one more time: at whose behest is this fence being built, and for what purpose?

In some places, it is said that the fence is part of the Gwadar Smart Port Cities project. But nobody connected with that project has any inkling of it, neither the Makran Division bureaucracy nor the GDA nor officials from relevant departments of the Balochistan government such as planning. These are the people tasked with implementing the smart port cities project, and thus far, none of them seem to know anything about this fence.

I have long maintained that we in Pakistan don't have a clear idea of what exactly is being built in our country under the umbrella of the CPEC Enslavement of Pakistan Strategy. There are important gaps between what we are told is built and what we see coming up on the ground. The Balochistan Bar Association has filed a legal challenge before the Balochistan High Court in Quetta around the fence, and the first hearing will be held today. Let's hope this legal action can shine a light on what is going on and defend Pakistan against Chinese occupation.

[estatelandnews]

The $168 million Gwadar road project is nearly complete. The enormous broadband and road infrastructure project, worth $168 million is nearly complete.

The project was a component of a larger $1.1 billion development package for Gwadar’s city and port. After completion, the Gwadar Eastbay Expressway was a six-lane urban motorway. It connects Gwadar Port to the Gwadar Free Trade Zone and Makran Coastal Highway.

Read more with EL news : The government intends construction of 2,392 houses for low-income

Japan considers Gwadar as a transit port

Economic and commercial experts indicates that the Gwadar Eastbay Expressway would be an essential step. It directs towards maximizing Gwadar Port’s trade potential. It is notably by connecting the port to the Gwadar Free Trade Zone.

It’s worth emphasizing here that the completion of the Gwadar Eastbay Expressway benefited the Coastal City in various ways.

Read more with EL news : PM orders Punjab to begin work on Leh Expressway by December

It would enable Gwadar Port to maximize its trading potential. Establish Gwadar as a regional investment hub for businesses throughout Pakistan.

[lahoreherald]

Govt unable to support Gwadar Plan due lack of facilities

The Cabinet Committee on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CCoCPEC) on Thursday described the Gwadar port marketing strategy submitted by Chinese operators as inadequate, as the government also remained unable to give the necessary assistance to properly operationalize its free zone.

Due to a delay in commencing work on the 300-megawatt Gwadar power plant, as well as a shortage of transmission network, the cabinet committee has agreed to import another 100MW of electricity from Iran to fulfill the port’s energy needs. The CCoCPEC meeting presided over by Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar, evaluated progress on key CPEC projects as well as the Gwadar Port marketing strategy.

The Gwadar Port and Free Zone are supposed to be the crown jewels of CPEC, however, development on these two key CPEC initiatives has lagged well behind expectations, despite Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa making them a top priority. According to reports, the Chinese operators of the port of Gwadar, China Overseas Ports Holding Company Pakistan Limited (COPHC), made a presentation to the committee about the potential of the installation and the marketing plan.

However, cabinet members voiced severe concerns about the marketing strategy and considered it unacceptable, they noted. According to a cabinet minister, the plan lacks clarity on the strength of the Gwadar port, which serves as its strategic position. He also pointed out that there was no mention of industrial clusters that may be established in the free zone.

According to the sources, two federal ministers suggested at the discussion that a way forward must be found since everything cannot be left to Chinese entrepreneurs. However, officials from the marine affairs ministry stated that the government is unable to intervene because of the concession deal inked with the port operators. When contacted, a COPHC senior official stated, “Gwadar port is operational and capable of processing any type of cargo.”

However, the road network is not yet complete, and all Gwadar goods must transit through Karachi, limiting the port’s competitiveness, he noted. The Chinese firm executive went on to say that infrastructure, including electricity, water, and road connections, constitute a block in the development of the Gwadar port and free zone. The Gwadar Free Zone’s future growth is being hampered by land resettlement and incentive policies.

“However, Prime Minister (Imran Khan) visited Gwadar on July 5 and directed the appropriate authorities to eliminate obstacles of Gwadar development, and the port operator is optimistic that Gwadar can be developed as a new economic center of Pakistan with the participation of all stakeholders,” he said.

According to the reports, the Pakistan Coast Guard and Pakistan Navy continue to hold roughly 97 acres of land in the Gwadar Free Zone. However, the cabinet committee informed the port operators during the meeting that occupied property accounted for just 4% of the total zone land and that the operators should hasten operations to develop the remaining space.

Published in Lahore Herald #lahoreherald #breakingnews #breaking

[lakyariestate]

Opening of new industries in Gwadar to provide employment opportunities to locals: Naseer Khan Kashani

Opening of new industries in Gwadar to provide employment opportunities to locals: Naseer Khan Kashani

According to Voice of Gwadar, at the opening reception of the first transit shipment being cleared from Gwadar Free Zone, Chairman Gwadar Port Authority, Naseer Khan Kashani has said that the opening of new industries will provide employment opportunities to the local youth of Gwadar and increase trade activities. Chairman of China Overseas Ports Holding Company, Mr Zhang Baozhong addressed the…

[theeurasianpost]

Gwadar Free Zone: Irked by rupee slide, Chinese for accounts in RMB

Gwadar Free Zone: Irked by rupee slide, Chinese for accounts in RMB

ISLAMABAD: Disturbed with frequent depreciation of the Pak Rupee (PKR), Chinese investors in Gwadar have sought permission to maintain their bank accounts in RMB in Gwadar Free Zone without converting their money into Rupees, well informed sources told Business Recorder. This issue was raised by Chairman, China Port Holding Company Limited (COPHCL) at a meeting of Federal Steering Committee on…

[kashifqureshicom]

New Construction to Begin in Gwadar after Almost 4 Years

An almost-four-year-old ban on construction in Gwadar was lifted on Feb. 28, 2020. The news came almost a month after the masterplan of the smart city was unveiled.  This is good news for property investors and developers, in particular, who can now proceed with new construction and developments in the smart city. In this blog, we will discuss what the lifting of the ban entails and how it will help boost trade and economic activity in the region.

CONSTRUCTION BAN ON GWADAR LIFTED AFTER 4 YEARS

Construction ban in Gwadar lifted after 4 years On Feb. 28, 2020, Shahzeb Khan Kakar, the Director-General of the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA), announced the lifting of the ban on construction in Gwadar. The new development is a breath of fresh air for property developers who have stakes in the region, as the GDA was not issuing any no-objection-certificates (NOCs) for new construction, owing to the ban. An official notification by the GDA states, “It is hereby notified that the ban on all kinds of NOCs for housing, commercial, industrial, recreational, warehouses and all types of construction and development activities within the jurisdiction of Gwadar Development Authority is here lifted with immediate effect.” The construction ban lifted in Gwadar in 2016 for a period of six months because the authority needed time to revise Gwadar’s masterplan along the lines of a smart port city. In fact, according to Mr. Kakar’s address to the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) on Feb. 21, 2020,  Gwadar will be “developed like Singapore.” After months of research and deliberation, the official masterplan of Gwadar was finalized in the first half of February. Now that there’s a proper layout, the GDA has given the go-ahead to new construction in the city. All government semi-government bodies would need to first obtain a NOC from the GDA to carry out any kind of construction activity and have to follow all construction bylaws, as specified in the new masterplan of Gwadar. Gwadar will comprise seven ecological corridors, around 11 urban zones and a special economic district to help attract foreign capital, according to the masterplan. However, there are some challenges. As mentioned in Nikkei Asian Review, more than PKR 100 billion is required to build the basic infrastructure of the city. At the moment, Gwadar receives electricity—albeit irregularly—from Iran. A 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant, which is being constructed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is also expected to provide electricity to the city in about two years. Then there is a shortage of water in the city as well. However, the provincial and federal government authorities are taking special measures to address the problem. It is expected that Gwadar will meet its future water demands by building more desalination plants.Supply lines from the nearest dams, Akra Kaur, Sawad and Shadi Kaur, to the port city are being laid. Water in these dams is expected to last for up to 5 years. Lifting of the ban on construction in Gwadar means more opportunities for investment. If you’re also interested in becoming a stakeholder in what is set to become the next economic hub of Pakistan, then check out the following properties in Gwadar. PROPERTIES IN GWADAR FOR INVESTMENT

Properties to invest in the port city of Gwadar There are various plot files up for sale in Gwadar. If you are looking to buy a 5 marla plot file in Gwadar, then keep a budget of PKR 2 lakh to PKR 8 lakh. 10 marla plot files are being sold at prices ranging from PKR 8 lakh to PKR 18.5 lakh. A 1 kanal plot file in Gwadar can be bought in the PKR 7 lakh to PKR 18 lakh range. Commercial properties are also up for sale in Gwadar. So, if you are looking for a particular investment opportunity, then take a look at the plot prices of these commercial properties up on sale in Gwadar. Prices of commercial properties range from PKR 8 crore to PKR 3.5 billion. So, these were some of the latest updates on Gwadar. For more information, keep reading My Blog, the best real estate blog in Pakistan. If you want to know more about Gwadar and how it became a tax-free-zone, check out our piece on the 23-year tax holiday in Gwadar. Don’t forget to write to me at kashifabidqureshi@gmail.com and I will surely get back to you. Read the full article

[eproperty]

Gwadar Port & Free Zone April 2020

On going development work at Gwadar Port and Gwadar Free Zone area, so far 8 factories in Free Zone South, Including Steel Pipe Factory, Metal Recycling, Eedible Oil, E-Bike manufacturing and Fish Processing. Operations to start soon, 100s of Jobs being created for Gwadar locals.

[bigyack-com]

Decoding the Indo-Pacific and China in Indian Ocean - india news

Over the weekend, India will host a combined session of the Delhi Dialogue and Indian Ocean Dialogue to highlight its open and inclusive approach to working for a cooperative, free and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.Here is an explainer on its significance:What is the Indo-Pacific and how did it evolve into a strategic concept?The Indo-Pacific is essentially a US construct encompassing the region between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, and in the American definition, it ranges from the eastern shores of the African continent to the western coast of the US. And while the US policy is widely perceived as a move to contain China, India has adopted a slightly different and nuanced approach.In June 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined India’s vision of the Indo-Pacific while addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore: “Inclusiveness, openness and Asean centrality and unity, therefore, lie at the heart of the new Indo-Pacific. India does not see the Indo-Pacific Region as a strategy or as a club of limited members.” He concluded his speech by saying, “India’s own engagement in the Indo-Pacific Region - from the shores of Africa to that of the Americas - will be inclusive.”While acknowledging that India and the US have a shared vision of an open, stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, Modi made it clear it wouldn’t be “a grouping that seeks to dominate” or “directed against any country”. This was messaging clearly aimed at China - while New Delhi has genuine concerns about Beijing’s activities in regional waters, it is also interested in achieving a balance instead of antagonising its powerful neighbour.Why is India invested in it?India’s focus, it is becoming clear, is more on the Indian Ocean element of the Indo-Pacific, rather than the Pacific Ocean element. It has gone about forging better security and trade ties with a number of key players in the region such as Japan and also members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations such as Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore. Japan has unveiled its own “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision” and Asean recently announced its “Indo-Pacific Outlook” that envisages a key role for India.India’s focus on the Indian Ocean element is also evident from the invitees to the Delhi Dialogue and Indian Ocean Dialogue - Indonesia’s foreign minister Retno Marsudi as a guest of honour, special envoys, deputy ministers and senior officials from Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, the Asean deputy secretary general and the foreign secretaries of Seychelles and the Maldives.What is often unstated is that these states are all looking at an emerging power such as India to take on a greater role in ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight through an order based on international rules in the face of China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour, which is most obvious in the South China Sea. Such thinking also dovetails into India’s efforts to emerge as the leading player in the Indian Ocean.Why has the Indian Ocean become a site of strategic competition?The Indian Ocean is clearly a key part of China’s efforts to implement its ambitious and strategic connectivity project, the Belt and Road Initiative. Vice Admiral Didier Maleterre, joint commander of French forces in the Indian Ocean, recently noted that China’s presence at a string of civilian and military facilities, including Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Gwadar in Pakistan and Djibouti, has security implications for the region.From first positioning its warships in the Indian Ocean in 2008 for the ostensible reason of tackling piracy, China has gone on to deploy more assets, including destroyers and conventional and nuclear submarines, which clearly is an indication of its efforts to project its power in the region and dominate sea lanes of communication.Is China a threat in the maritime domain?China has, in the past, sent its submarines to the port of Colombo in Sri Lanka and in November, an Indian warship forced Chinese marine research vessel Shi Yan 1 that was operating in India’s exclusive economic zone near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, home to a key tri-services military facility. Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash tweeted that such a research vessel has to “merely sail through our proximate waters to collect vital data relating to sea water temperature and salinity profiles” that would be vital for anti-submarine warfare and submarine operations.Most experts believe that China isn’t an imminent threat but its activities in the Indian Ocean and its rapidly expanding naval fleet are of growing concern.What are the next steps in collaboration on the Indian Ocean?India’s focus will clearly be more engagement and joint naval exercises with countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Australia and even a Western power such as France, which has island territories with 1.5 million citizens and 9 million sq km of EEZ in the Indo-Pacific, to forge greater inter-operability and to ensure a rules-based, open and stable trade environment in the Indo-Pacific. At the same time, Indian leaders have spoken of Asean’s centrality in these efforts.The theme for the Indian Ocean Dialogue on December 13 is “Indo-Pacific: Re-imagining the Indian Ocean through an expanded geography” while the theme for the Delhi Dialogue is “Advancing partnership in Indo-Pacific”, which are aimed at building on the growing recognition of the Indo-Pacific concept in strategic and academic circles within this region and beyond. Read the full article