Singapore Port Authority (SPA) is likely to be the first choice of Government of Pakistan (GoPP) for Gwadar port management SPA's vast experience in handling big ports world-wide is its advantage over the other two parties in the run for the contract.
The officials in Islamabad are pretty confident that SPA can get good business for Pakistan by making Gwadar port an attraction for big shipping lines.
An official said "We are assessing the proposals of all three parties for getting the right group for this mega project but, frankly speaking, our first priority will be a party that can handle the port in an efficient manner, besides bringing maximum shipping lines to Gwadar port to secure maximum business for Pakistan, and SPA is in a better position to meet these requirements."
The other two parties are Dubai Port World of UAE, and China Harbour having a consortium with Cosco, China.
China Harbour's investment plan is also an attraction for Pakistan and the officials would take its all aspects into account before taking any final decision about the contract. China Harbour is interested in setting up a big refinery at Gwadar to supply oil to China, India, Afghanistan, Central Asian Republics and other countries of the region.
A meeting chaired by President General Pervez Musharraf was given a detailed presentation on Gwadar port. It also covered proposals with specific investment plans of the three parties.
The meeting was told that Pakistan was targeting 2011 for bringing Gwadar port in operation with complete infrastructure and best facilities for handling cargoes.
Gwadar will be the best port in the world having an advantage of 18-metre water depth to handle longest and biggest ships with the most modern facilities. Gwadar has natural advantage. Its 18-metre water depth is a natural advantage to Pakistan to build a big port for largest ships.
Gwadar port is seen as a catalyst to give a boost to Pakistan's economy. It will serve as a centre for different corridors to help Pakistan meet its growing demand in different key areas and provide the shortest and viable route to the entire region for supply of energy, quick transportation of goods, world-wide trade and industrialisation.
The officials working on the project are confident that Gwadar port alone will help Pakistan secure $10 billion foreign investment in the next four to five years and would subsequently push its growth rate in double digit by 2018. It would also generate huge business activity in Pakistan and serve as the best facility to other countries of the region to supply their goods to any country of the world in shortest possible time.
The official said the government would expand all kinds of network to provide basic infrastructure to set up industries at Gwadar port and other areas which would be linked to it through roads and train links.
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