Vice President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Tariq Haleem, has asserted that regional office of FPCCI in Gwadar will provide opportunities for the business community to participate in CPEC projects and programs.
He said that there are huge opportunities, as well as challenges, which need to be addressed on a priority basis to make Gwadar the future gateway of Pakistan. He stressed on need to address genuine grievances, if any, of stakeholders, regarding various projects in Balochistan, particularly related to operations at Gwadar deep sea port.
"Development of infrastructure and trade between Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia and Western China will be mutually beneficial," he said, adding that Gwadar would serve as a trade and energy transportation hub. Tariq Haleem noted that Gwadar is strategically located (Latitude 25o -07/ North, Longitude 062o -20/ East) between three increasingly important regions of the world: the oil-rich Western Asia, heavily populated South Asia, and economically emerging and resource rich Central Asia. He said this location thus proves to be a considerable advantage compared to competitor ports for serving these regions, as well as for the western provinces of China.
He was sure that in near future Gwadar would be a major transshipment hub in the area. He said there was no denying the fact that the Gwadar port would attract investors, create job opportunities, open up new avenues of economic development in the coastal region, and thereby contribute significant revenue to the national economy. However, he made clear that it depends upon ability to overcome the challenges being faced, particularly security. Besides economic gains, substantial political benefits can also be reaped from providing seaport facilities to this region, especially to landlocked states. The development of Gwadar port would act as a gateway to prosperity for the entire region.
He said FPCCI is the highest platform of the private sector, its regional office at Gwadar will ensure on-the-ground implementation of FPCCI policies, in line with the best interests of the business community. FPCCI functions as a bridge between the business community and the Government.
"While 92 percent of economic activity is being done by the private sector, physical presence of the FPCCI, in the form of a regional office, will provide opportunities to participate in CPEC projects and programs," he said.