ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar said on Saturday that China had “acceded to Pakistan’s request to take over operations” of the Gwadar port as soon as the agreement with the Singapore Port Authority expired.
The minister, who had accompanied the prime minister during his visit to China, issued a statement to press about the development.
But the statement was silent on an important point: whether China will wait till 2047 for taking over the port. According to the concession agreement between Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) and PSAI-AKD group, signed on Feb 6, 2007, the arrangement will be valid for 40 years.
Under the agreement, the Gwadar Port Authority receives revenues from consortium of PSAI-AKD.
Mr Mukhtar said Pakistan was grateful to the Chinese government for building the Gwadar port. “However, we shall be more grateful to the Chinese if they agree to build naval base at Gwadar.”
The Chinese government had agreed to “our request to equip our air force with FC-20 aircraft”, the minister added.
He also said Islamabad had asked Beijing to convey a message to Washington that “our sovereignty be respected”.
The Chinese government “assured us of help in removing hurdles in the way of Pakistan’s progress”, the defence minister said.
great step … this is going to be really beneficial for both countries!
Pak-cheen dosti zindabad!
great, so the major powers struggle on the oil sources in central asia and its access through afghanistan and Pakistan continues.
well played Pakistan, well played if i must say so.
I thought the government (the balochistan one at least) wanted to break the contract with SPA, though I bet that the SPA must have built in some penalties in the contract. I just don't get why Pakistan is not competent enough to run the port on its own with advisory cooperation from china that built it. Afghanistan / Central Asia seems a long shot right now, but Pakistan could benefit by becoming the conduit for supplies that China need on the cheap to develop western China which is very far from the coast. I have read that China actually negotiated with some balochi sardars itself to get some railway lines and mining projects but it is not enough to set up the whole system.
I will put things into perspective...Whenever Govt have any project to do they have 2 ways to do it..First way is to self finance it and other way is to give that project to Private builder or contractor...In pakistan case they give port development project to China but in return how China will get there investment with interest back ? Its like Toll tax...Pakistan instead paying China for Port Development they are asking China to run the port and share revenue generation..
^ Maybe they killed Osama and showed their intentions of moving out, that caused Pakistan to think they won't be able to cause further trouble in Balochistan. But who knows what they might do.
We should request Chinese to take over operations of Government of Pakistan.
Yeah...would be a good idea...people will get services while politicians will get royalty from Beijing and China will have easy access to the warm waters.....a win-win situation for all :)
We should request Chinese to take over operations of Government of Pakistan.
^
agree with that
How bad has the situation become that we trust non muslim chinese government more than our own.
very sad, but its the reality our pak government work for america's interest and these traitors zadari, gilani and the rest dont give a damn about the people of pakistan.
