Tag Archives: Gwadar

Gwadar turns less power-deficient city

on 22/06/2023

Balochistan’s port city of Gwadar is now less power-deficient in practical terms after the 100MW Iran-Gwadar power transmission project.
Abdul Aziz Uqaili, the Chief Secretary of Balochistan and an engineer too said last month that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would inaugurate the 100MW Iran-Gwadar power transmission project during his visit to Balochistan which was due by writing this report.
Uqaili who was there for a high-level meeting to review the ongoing uplift projects in Gwadar said under the power transmission project, Gwadar will get 100 megawatts of electricity from Iran.
National Dispatch Company (NDC), Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESC), Gwadar Port Authority (GPA), Gwadar Development Authority (GDA), China Overseas Port Holding Company, and the departments concede with the project have completed their preparations.
The project was complete and what was left was the unveiling of the project that the prime minister was to do. The electricity supply to Gwadar will be formally started.
During his visit, the PM will also open the project of the first cross-stuffing facility at Gwadar Port, dredging at Gwadar Port. Besides, distribution of boat engine checks to the deserving fishermen of Gwadar will also be done,” he said.
The chief secretary reportedly stressed that the incumbent government was committed to the development of the coastal belt of Balochistan and through various uplift projects launched in the province, trying to benefit the local people of Balochistan.
“The implementation of all these projects is part of the vision of the PM Pakistan for Balochistan,” he emphasized.
Moreover, he was briefed about the administrative structure of the Gwadar district, its historical importance, and ongoing development projects by the federal and provincial governments.
Gwadar power woes are likely to be addressed by the end of this year after the completion of the 300 megawatts (MW) coal-fired power plant.
The 300MW coal-fired Gwadar Power Plant would cater needs of some 150,000 local people by the end of 2023 under the 2050 Master Plan of Gwadar.
The power plant of an independent power producer was one of the key energy projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he added.
The project aimed at improving the reliability of the local power supply which would help gradually solve the problems in current economic development and urban construction in the Gwadar region, which is being restricted by the shortage of power.
All major projects under CPEC in Gwadar, including Gwadar Power Plant, the New Gwadar International Airport Project, the China Pak Friendship Hospital, China-Pak Technical and Vocational Institute in Gwadar, the Gwadar East-bay Expressway Project, Gwadar Free Zone, and Gwadar Port need energy.
Makran division of Balochistan depends on Iranian power for a long. Pakistan signed with Iran agreement in 2003 under which Iran had to daily supply 35 megawatts to Balochistan’s coastal belt.
In 2011, the agreement was extended, and Iran was asked to increase the capacity to 70 megawatts.
Five years later, when construction work in the deep-sea port of Gwadar gained momentum, 30 megawatts were added to the power supply and Iran has since been selling 100 megawatts to Pakistan to light up its coastal areas.
“Power shortfalls in Iran have led to load shedding in Gwadar, Turbat, and Makraan regions. These areas are not connected to the national grid and are dependant upon the Iranian power supply.

ECNEC approves Gwadar drinking water, Mohmand Dam Hydropower projects

on 08/06/2018

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Thursday approved three major projects, including supply of drinking water to Gwadar, a hydropower project at Mohmand Agency and Metro Bus service for the new Islamabad International Airport.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi here, accorded approval to these projects. The ECNEC gave approval for the Rs 309.558 billion multi-purpose Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project.

Besides producing 800 mv electricity, it would also have a storage capacity of 1,594 million cubic meters of water that could be used for irrigation, flood mitigation and supply of drinking water to Peshawar and FATA.

ECNEC gave approval for the construction cost of infrastructure and allied works for Metro Bus Services from Peshawar Morr interchange to  New Islamabad International Airport. Central Development Working Party had recommended the review of the project by the ECNEC.The 25.6 km long project, which was still in different stages of completion, would cost Rs.16,427.880 million and provide affordable and convenient transport for passengers using the New Islamabad International Airport, rescheduled for opening in first week of May.

To meet the long standing demand of the people of Gwadar, the port city would get a five million of gallons per day Reverse Osmosis Sea Water Plant at a total cost of Rs. 5,071.43 million. Under this project sea water would be desalinated for catering to the drinking and other requirements of Gwadar City and adjoining areas. The Federal Government has also agreed to increase its financing share from 50% to 67% while the remaining 33% would be financed by the Government of Balochistan.

 

Pakistan ensures $8 billion for ML-1

on 21/07/2017

Linking Gwadar with railways networks is underway: Saad Rafique

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has urged the Islamic Development Bank and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Trade and Development Bank to promote investment in railways to ensure better connectivity among ECO states. “I have already talked to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and would urge IDB and ECO Trade and Development Bank to contribute to economic and social development of the ECO region,” said Rafique, while addressing the 9th high-level working group meeting of ECO Container Train on Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul route. He said that the government is determined to provide sovereign guarantee to IDB and the consortium and may provide financing terms of trade to Pakistan from Quetta/Taftan section connecting Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey. “We have already arranged approximately $8 billion financing to upgrade the main line ML-1 with the Chinese institutions. Arrangement of finances for linking Gwadar with railways networks is also underway.”The minister said that in 2015 the overall GDP of the ECO countries was $4.7 trillion and total intra-ECO trade volume stood at only $58 billion, which was far below its true potential. “I am confident that the target of ECO union 2025 will be realised through trade, transportation and cross border movements and infrastructure improvement.” He informed that Pakistan Railway is working on a master plan to upgrade its three main arteries; ML-1 from Peshawar to Karachi, ML-2 from Attock to Kotri and ML-3 from Quetta to Taftan and from Iran and Turkey. The minister said that poor condition of railways track from Quetta to Taftan is a major bottleneck in regional connectivity and onwards to Europe while the rail links from Chaman to Spin Boldak to Kandahar and onwards connecting to Turkmenistan is also under consideration. “This will ensure that Gwadar sea port is used to its full potential to transport goods to Afghanistan and landlocked Central Asian Republics.”

 

CPEC should be open to Pakistani firms like to Chinese: Dr. Ishrat Hussain

on 04/04/2017
Calls for ensuring level playing field for Pakistani, foreign companies

Renowned economist and former Governor State Bank of Pakistan has said CPEC should be open to Pakistani firms on the same terms as to the Chinese adding Commercial banks should finance Pakistani companies, either stand alone or in joint ventures with the Chinese companies in collaboration with the infrastructure development fund.
Mr. Hussain believes: one of CPEC’s benefits would be the training and development of skilled manpower. Plans have to be made to assess long-term manpower requirements, both for construction as well as the operational phases of CPEC projects.
 “Various categories and levels of training programmes have to thus be designed and then assigned to credible, pre qualified providers. Particular attention should be given to train youth from backward areas, starting with Gwadar all the way to the Karakoram Highway.
A number of private and non-profit organisations are actively engaged in quality vocational and technical training, mainly in Karachi and Punjab. These organisations should be invited to set up similar facilities in other parts of the country where CPEC projects are being executed, he writes in an article.
In addition to this formal training, internships and attachments with Chinese companies working on the projects should be made an integral part of the curriculum. If there is one lasting legacy for which CPEC should be remembered, it is investment in producing skilled and trained technical manpower with different levels of expertise.
Dr. Hussein enshrined six areas of policy where the government has to get serious. They include energy, industry, trade, foreign exchange regime, financial policy and skill development.
He says The Special Economic Zones (SEZs), industrial parks, etc to be set up along CPEC should be open to Pakistani firms on the same terms as to the Chinese. Land should be allotted on long-term lease rather than outright purchase and the leases auctioned only to genuine, pre ualified bidders to eliminate land grabbers and speculators. In Balochistan, some portion should be reserved for local investors wherever feasible. The lease should incorporate a provision that the allotment would be cancelled if the project is not operational within three years. All infrastructure works — power, gas, water, roads, effluent plants, amenities — should be in place before the possession is passed on.
Pre-feasibility studies should be carried out by SEZ authorities through expert consultancy firms or universities, to provide baseline data and information about the kind of projects that can be established in different zones.
He says exports must grow at least 15 per cent annually to meet these new obligations, and remittances have to increase at their historical level. The exchange rate has to be managed deftly to stimulate new export products, new firms and penetration into new markets, while ensuring that prices of imports of capital goods, machinery and equipment are not hiked up, which would make new investments unattractive. Pakistani and other foreign companies winning competitive bidding should have a level playing field.
Also, free trade Agreements have to be renegotiated to preserve the comparative advantage of Pakistani exports and tariff quotas introduced to safeguard against material injury to Pakistani manufacturers. Import tariff rates must be gradually reduced to enable Pakistani companies to participate in the global supply chain.
In Balochistan, southern KP and Gilgit-Baltistan, urban and rural infrastructure projects that link the main highways and motorways under CPEC with the communities should be given priority by their respective set-ups in allocation of development budgets.
In addition to this formal training, internships and attachments with Chinese companies working on the projects should be made an integral part of the curriculum. If there is one lasting legacy for which CPEC should be remembered, it is investment in producing skilled and trained technical manpower with different levels of expertise. – MD