Gwadar Port to Maximize Benefits for Pakistan

Islamabad: Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, has pledged to strategically develop Gwadar Port to optimize its advantages. He mentioned that through value-added exports of fisheries and dates, the port’s expansion could yield over $850 million annually.

The minister chaired a significant meeting focused on the operationalization of Gwadar Port, stating that the administration is dedicated to guaranteeing consistent investment, infrastructure enhancements, and specific policy assistance in order to fully utilize the port’s potential.

He explained, “Balochistan has a prospective annual fish catch of about 300,000 tons, and with suitable value addition, this could produce about $645 million per year. The present production, however, is roughly half of that amount because of insufficient fishing capacity, outdated technology, and regulatory obstacles.”

He emphasized that Balochistan currently has 34 fish processing facilities, the majority of which require technological advancements to adhere to export regulations. He continued, “It is vital to transform these units in order to enhance the sector by adding value through packaging and processing prior to export.”

The minister pointed out that the Panjgur and Turbat districts together generate over 225,000 tons of dates annually, which is more than half of Pakistan’s total. He added, “The industry has the potential to generate between $200 and $205 million in revenue each year with value addition.”

The minister presented a thorough strategy to boost economic activity in Gwadar. The meeting, which was attended by officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs as well as representatives from other relevant ministries and organizations, such as the Gwadar Port Authority, Commerce, Industries, and Communication, was conducted via Zoom.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to using local resources and empowering local businesses to operationalize Gwadar Port and boost the regional economy.

He made it clear that dates and fisheries are the region’s main economic engines. He stated, “Gwadar possesses considerable fish catch potential, and we must give priority to local value addition in order to optimize rewards.”

The minister highlighted that, despite having 76.2% of Pakistan’s total coastline, Balochistan’s fish output is still significantly below its full capacity.

The minister revealed initiatives to improve air travel in order to promote business and connectivity in the region. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will raise its weekly flights to Gwadar from one to three.

He stated, “Two weekly flights are being considered between Gwadar and Karachi, and one between Gwadar and Islamabad.”

The minister also mentioned that the potential of implementing a chartered flight system to make it easier for businesspeople and investors to travel is being evaluated.