Since taking charge of the Government of Pakistan, PM Shehbaz Sharif paid his first visit to Gwadar on Friday. In his address at the inauguration ceremony of Eastbay Expressway and groundbreaking of seven more development projects for Gwadar, he said, “I have directed to strictly follow the timelines in order to avoid any more delays in the projects”.
A component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the six-lane Eastbay Expressway would connect the Gwadar Port with the Makran Coastal Highway, also providing a link to Karachi.
The prime minister also took an overview of the development projects, including the under-construction Gwadar airport which was being built under a Chinese grant and plans to escalate the completion process.
Shehbaz broke ground for the Gwadar Seawater Desalination Plant by China Aid, Jingtal Gwadar Private Limited, Hangmei Lubricant Plant, Hangeng Agricultural Industrial Park, Gwadar Expo Centre and Gwadar Fertiliser Plant, besides distribution of 3,000 solar panels.
The premier said the Eastbay Expressway would also provide a link to Karachi to ease the transportation of goods.
“A desalination plant will be installed and a hospital has been built for the people of Gwadar, while 3,200 solar panels will be distributed among the families here.”
He said instead of wasting billions of rupees on water reservoirs, a desalination plant should have been installed to cope with the water needs of the people of Gwadar.
He assured that due to silting, the depth of Gwadar sea port was reducing and instructed for the dredging to allow the traffic of heavy ships.
He suggested a G2G model for installation of the desalination plant, calling for initiating talks with the Chinese side without any delay.
Shehbaz also announced that in the first phase, the federal government would provide 2,000 boat engines to the fishermen through balloting.