Three berths will be ready for operation as the first phase of the Gwadar deep-sea port would be ready by January next year, six months ahead of schedule.
This was stated by Mir Ahmed Bux Lehri, Director General, Gwadar Development Authority, at a press briefing about Gwadar Master Plan here on Sunday.
He said that the first phase would be completed at a total cost of dollar 248 million. Referring to port related facilities, he said that five highways are being constructed to connect the port with other parts of the country and further to the Central Asian Countries and Afghanistan facilitating trade with these countries as well as India and Iran.
Lehri further informed that the coastal highway will be ready by September this year and would help in developing infrastructural facilities at the port. Plans are also in the offing to connect the port with the Railway network of the country.
A road will also be constructed linking Nokudi in Chagai that would further lead into Afghanistan providing the shortest route for the landlocked Central Asian states to trade with different parts of the world.
The road will also help develop mineral resources including marble, copper and iron in Chagai district and their export.
He said while the eastern side of the coast would be meant for port activities, the western side will be utilised for residential, commercial and recreational facilities for which sufficient pieces of land have been earmarked. 19,500 acres have been allotted for residential schemes, 200 acres for commercial and 210 acres for recreational activities.
Ten thousand acres of land has been made available for setting up industrial units.
He said four housing schemes have been launched in the private sector while one residential colony would be built in public sector for employees.
There would be economic free zone with subsidised electricity supply as incentive to the investors.
As regards water supply, The DG GDA said that each residential scheme will have its own desalination plant and recycling system for sewerage water.
Replying to a question he said that 310 local youth from Gwadar have been selected for technical training at Islamabad who will be later absorbed in different trades in Gwadar port.
However, he said the people of Gwadar are fully convinced that the port is in their best interest and are co-operating with the authority.