China and Pakistan took a huge step toward creating energy links among the world’s strategic regions when the first Chinese vessel docked at the Gwadar deepsea port in southwestern Balochistan province early Monday.
The port, built with the Chinese help at the confluence of the energy-rich Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and Pakistan and by extension China and Central Asia, is at the center of US$ 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The CPEC is about 3000 kilometers long consisting of highways, railways and pipelines that will connect China’s Xinjiang province to rest of the world through Pakistan’s Gwadar port.
Iran and several Central Asian countries are keen to join the massive corridor.
The arrival of first Chinese ship comes a day after analysts indicated that China may speed up the construction of CPEC to counter Indian efforts to isolate and corner Pakistan.
The multi-million dollar Gwadar port is set to be fully operational by the end of the year, according to Pakistan government officials.
Gwadar port will see roughly one million tonnes of cargo going through it by 2017.
Gwadar forms what officials call the “heart” of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a grand $46 billion project giving Beijing greater access to the Middle East, Africa and Europe through Pakistan.
The port was built in 2007 with technical help from Beijing as well as Chinese financial assistance of about $248 million.
The tonnage will initially comprise “quite a number” of construction materials for the city’s development, which Pakistani officials envision turning into another Dubai.
Exports will at first focus on the local fishing industry, with a modern processing plant planned for the area.
To strengthen economic activities at the port, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has recently unveiled five developmental projects for Gwadar. These are Free Trade Zone, Business Complex of Gwadar Port Authority, Pak-China Government Primary School Faqir Colony, Sawar and Shadikor dams and Gwadar University.
Gwadar, the nerve center of CPEC, is fast transforming into an international city. Analysts believe Gwadar has the potential to become a world class sea port connecting energy-rich and energy-demanding regions.
