Imran Khan on 5th July visited Gwadar to launch various mega projects. This included the groundbreaking of phase two of the Gwadar Free Zone (GFZ), the launch of the expo center, agricultural industrial park, and three factories.
At this point, Imran Khan addressed the attendees of the ceremony saying that the government will now try having talks with estranged Baloch youth. He said he is mulling to hold talks with angry Baloch in Balochistan so that hostile elements, including India, could not use them to spread chaos.
He stated that PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif made 24 visits to London, 23 of which were private and did not visit Balochistan twice, while Zardari made 51 visits to Dubai and never once visited Balochistan.
The prime minister, while regretting the past rulers’ persistent negligence towards Balochistan, further assured that the Federal Government would enhance its contribution to the development of the province every year.
The premier pointed out that in a parliamentary system, the politics of political parties is towards winning elections and they do everything they can to become the prime minister by winning more seats.
“A person who thinks about Pakistan will think about Balochistan as well, but if a person wants to win elections, he will focus on Faisalabad division, which has more seats in Parliament than Balochistan,” he said.
Imran Khan added, “I dream of Pakistan’s future — and I have grown up with Pakistan. This nation is heading towards becoming a great country,”
He further said, “Gwadar is becoming a focal point for Pakistan, which will benefit the country, especially Balochistan.”
Read More: Pakistan invites Tajikistan to benefit from Gwadar’s shortest trade route
Developing on the stance, the Federal Minister for information & Broadcasting tweeted that India’s terrorist network in Balochistan has been largely broken. Now the agenda for dialogue with the Baloch nationalists will be set. In Balochistan, the federal government will complete 131 projects worth Rs731 billion. Billion, Balochistan Is close to the heart of Imran Khan.
بلوچستان میں ہندوستان کا دہشت گردی کا نیٹ ورک کافی حد تک توڑ دیا ہے اب قوم پرستوں کے ساتھ بات چیت کا ایجنڈا طے کیا جائیگا،بلوچستان میں وفاقی حکومت 731 ارب کے 131 منصوبے مکمل کرے گی، صوبائ حکومت کا ترقیاتی پروگرام صرف اس سال 180 ارب کا ہے، بلوچستان @ImranKhanPTI کے دل کے قریب ہے https://t.co/6Vzc6W9fvX
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) July 6, 2021
The premier, shedding light on why the country should expedite China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and remove hurdles in businesses related to it, said Chinese exporters were aiming to install such industries that would help Pakistan increase its exports.
“Unfortunately, we have never focused on exports. And if we do, it will help bring in dollars,” PM Khan said, adding that Pakistan had always been at the mercy of the International Monetary Fund and that this dependency needs to end.
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, federal ministers Asad Umar, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Zubaida Jalal, Special Assistant to the PM Dr. Shehbaz Gill, National Security Adviser Dr. Moeed Yusuf, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal, provincial ministers and senior officers concerned also attended the ceremony.
The CPEC Authority chairman said a vocational institute was under development, adding that people would soon benefit from it.
The second phase of GFZ to get $1 billion
Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said while addressing the media that over $1 billion of investment from Chinese companies is expected in the second phase of Gwadar Free Zone, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday.
The federal minister said that Chinese investors have indicated great interest in investing in the north zone of Gwadar, which is 35 times bigger than the first phase.
جتنا ترقیاتی کام بلوچستان میں وزیراعظم عمران خان کی ہدایت پر کیا جارہا ہے پاکستان کی تاریخ میں آج تک نہیں ہوا، اسد عمر #AsadUmer #Pakistan #DawnNews pic.twitter.com/lZJygSOGbX
— DawnNews (@Dawn_News) July 6, 2021
Speaking to Media, Asad Umer said that the government of Pakistan under Imran Khan has committed Rs1200 billion via PSDP to uplift the province. He said that this is the highest ever amount contributed to the region.
According to Business Recorder, a number of investors have pledged investment in different sectors included Huang Weiguo (textile), Huang Daoyuan (prefabricated technology), Fang Hongyan (agriculture), Shen Jian (wool spinning), David Dia and Chen Yi (dairy processing), and Bao Dequan (textile).
Meanwhile, regional countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Kenya, and Qatar have also expressed their commitment for cooperation on the development of Gwadar.
Umar said the prime minister launched the South Balochistan package worth Rs 600 billion, under which 53 projects have been made part of the development plan this year.
Read More: Plight of the Hazara community in Balochistan
He said the development work is being executed in partnership with the Balochistan government.