Jang.com.pk
China to provide $200 mln to build Gwadar seaport
(Updated at 1745 PST)
BEIJING: Pakistan and China here on Friday signed a formal agreement, under which the Chinese Government will provide financial support of dollar 200 million for construction of first-phase of Gwadar seaport and Makran coastal highway.
The agreement was signed by Chinese Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng and Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz.
Demand for plots in Gwadar increases
By Aziz Sanghur
GWADAR, Aug 10: The demand for allotment of plots in Sangar housing project in Gwadar has increased after the decision of the federal government to construct a deep-sea port and link the Gwadar port with Karachi via Makran coastal highway, it is learnt here.
The demand for fresh allotment of plots came not only from the general public but also from personnel of defence establishment. According to sources, the project director of the project had received a request from defence authorities, including Pakistan Navy, for further allotment of plots. The project director, it is learnt, could not comply with the request because of shortage of plots.
Nearly all the plots earmarked for residential purposes have been allotted but with the recent government decisions the demand for more plots has suddenly increased.
According to the sources, the Headquarter Artillery 33 Division, Quetta, the monitoring authority for Gwadar district, vide letter No.3303/1/DMT/192-General Staff, had directed the commanding officer III Coast Guard Battalion to conduct an inquiry into the method and manner of allotments at the project, but no irregularities were detected.
A case for further allotment of land for the project was moved to the senior member, Board of Revenue vide letter No.493(PB) as requests for allotment of plots were received from the Headquarters Logistic Area, Quetta, Pakistan Navy, and a number of serving and retired civil and military officers.
The Sangar Housing Project is a project of the provincial government for which land has been allotted by the Balochistan Board of Revenue. The size, price and allotment procedure were also approved by the competent authority. Cancellation of any allotted plot could lead to a prolonged litigation, which could bring a bad name to the project.
The project was launched in 1991 at Koh-i-Bathil. Work on the infrastructure has been completed, the road network and water supply lines, as well as underground and overhead cables have been laid and work on sewerage lines is expected to be completed by the end of the year, a survey shows. Power will be supplied to the project through the Pasni grid station.
There are 3,000 residential plots measuring 1,000, 600 and 400 square yards and most of them have already been allotted. About 150 acres have been reserved for commercial activities.
The Gwadar deputy commissioner, who is the project director, has asked the allottees of plots in phases I, II and III to take the possession of their plots. The project is spread over 1,500 acres.
Well at least someone is investing in Pakistan.
[quote]
Originally posted by IB:
Well at least someone is investing in Pakistan.
[/quote]
What do you mean someone, No one invests in Pak. All those multi billion dollars projects complete and in the pipe line were illusion.
Expanding cooperation
Pakistan's economic cooperation with China has seen further expansion with an agreement signed between the two countries in Beijing on Friday under which China will provide $200 million for the first phase of the Gwadar seaport and Makran coastal highway. The remaining cost of the project, which will be around 50 million will be provided by Pakistan. But this is not all. China has also expressed its willingness to extend help for Pakistan Railways, Thar coal, Saindak and possibly for some more economic projects. The significance of the new agreement will be evident from the fact that a host minister was quoted as saying after the signing ceremony that China, being a close friend, considers its responsibility to help the Pakistani people in improving their socio-economic conditions.
Dating back to more than half a century, bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and China is based on solid foundations. A significant and particularly noticeable feature of it is that Chinese assistance has been made available for important projects and infrastructure. These relate to setting up of heavy industries, construction of highways and roads, improving communication network, assistance for the development of energy sector and exploitation of mineral resources. All along, the emphasis in selecting a project has been on its basic viability for economically backward areas or in the key sectors of the economy. By their very nature such projects create employment and help the recipient country in becoming self-reliant in areas where the assistance was provided.
The Chinese aid, which may be coming in the shape of loans as well as grants, is being provided at a time when China has itself made big strides in economic development. Its high rate of growth on a sustained basis clearly proves that judicious and prudent deployment of resources is necessary to move towards the desired economic objectives. This will be specially true for a developing country like Pakistan whose economy has lately been struggling to come out of the woods. Another lesson which can be learnt is to how to attract foreign investment which again is vitally important to accelerate economic growth. China's record in this regard is exceptional, as it has been attracting foreign investment in various sectors of its economy.
China is providing aid for various projects which should be thankfully acknowledged. As Pakistan's economy has been under some severe strains in the recent past and is still burdened with huge debt, it is imperative that aid utilisation is closely monitored and shows visible improvement. All the projects should be completed in time without involving cost over-runs. But beyond that, it is also necessary to maintain them and operate them on professionally sound and profitable basis. Chinese assistance stands out for being quick disbursing, easily usable and not hinged to conditionalities.
By financing some vital economic projects, it can help create in the country's economy the capacity to meet some of its debt-servicing obligations. With timely aid utilisation and project implementation, this goal can be easily reached.
Mr. Abdali sarcasm is not becoming on anybody.
[This message has been edited by IB (edited August 12, 2001).]
Malik 73,
Yet this is another kick a$$ project for MQM and people of Karachi. First change of capital from Karachi to Islamabad, moving head quarters of Navy and big organizations such as OGDC to Islamabad. Later on creation of Dry Ports in Punjab, this project will ultimately by pass Karachi port and direct movement of goods from this new port to Punjab and upcountry via Baluchistan bypassing Karachi and Sindh, further reducing the importance of Karachi port. Good Luck, you thick heads...
FARID
I doubt that the importance of Karachi will diminish in such a short period of time. If it does diminish it will take decades. Your paragraph seems to me more like paranoia than deductive reasoning.
Good response,…
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif
He needs it sometime.
China knows the Geo-Political importance of this spot,..and its a good step,..It may worry western countries. BUT Pakistan is doing the right thing at right time.
Thanx Abdali,.for sharing this news,..Now Pakistan is moving in the right direction.
Gawadar port will be an international spot,..and very important in coming years,…Business wise and Military wise,..Therefore,..China can be trusted more than any other country,…to use it if needed.
Pakistan-China ties must be very strong,..Economically and Militarily,..and signs are good,…both countries realise that.Bye to Uncle SAM and Hi to China,..is the call of the day,…
http://www.dawn.com/2001/08/16/top8.htm
Gwadar port to start working in three years
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Arrangements are being made to start construction of Chinese-funded Gwadar port, which will become operational within three years. This was stated by the Federal Minister for Communications and Railways Qazi Mohammad Ashraf, while briefing newsmen on Wednesday on his recent visit to China where Pakistan signed three agreements totalling $148 million.
Three berths would be built in the first phase and 18 more, including oil, chemical and container terminals, in the second phase, to complete the port requirements, he added, The minister said that the second phase of Gwadar port construction would cost another $800 million, which was yet to be made available. He, however, said that while Oman had provided $7million for the construction of the port’s basic infrastructure, Saudi Arabia had promised to provide $100 million for the construction of a coastal highway.
PR PROJECT: Referring to Chinese cooperation in railway projects, the minister said that, under an agreement, out of total 69, Pakistan Railways would import 15 locomotives from China and the remaining ones would be assembled in Pakistan under a technology transfer programme; and, similarly, 40 passenger coaches would come from China and 135 would be manufactured in the country.
ACCORD WITH IRAN: Commenting on transit issue with Iran, the minister said both the countries had agreed to allow entry to each other’s trucks against payment of $21, which earlier was one-sided and charged by Iran.