President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday directed adherence to top international standards in realisation of facilities at the Gwadar deep-sea port, saying that the important national asset would be a vital factor in turning Pakistan into a hub of regional trade.
Speaking at a meeting that reviewed progress on the development of the port, the President underlined that timely completion of the port on modern lines, would accrue tremendous benefits both to the local populace and the national economy.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also attended the meeting.
"We must put in place high quality of shipping services and connect the port to the upper parts of the country with an elaborate network of road and railway infrastructure. At the same time, we should ensure better allied infrastructure in the form of information technology, housing, hotel and business facilities at the port," the President said.
He said the region''s countries look up to Pakistan to serve as a trade and energy corridor between Central Asia, South Asia, the Gulf and the rapidly progressing western parts of China.
President Musharraf particularly outlined the impact of large-scale economic activity the port is to witness, and directed the Ministry of Ports to encourage maximum employment of local people.
"The local people should be trained to acquire skills necessary for running the operations of the port on modern lines to ensure that the multibillion rupees project reduces poverty and opens up new avenues of growth for the people of Balochistan," the President stressed.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government would facilitate the private sector in starting off business activity at Gwadar, and added that a number of incentives were being offered to investors.
He said the construction of Gwadar airport on modern lines would help facilitate foreign and local entrepreneurs in making use of investment opportunities in the region.
Minister for Shipping and Ports Babar Khan Ghauri said that work on realisation of the state-of-the-art facilities at Gwadar port was underway on fast track basis.
He said a number of foreign and local investors have shown keen interest in business opportunities at the port and in the development of allied communication infrastructure.
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