Pakistan to declare strategic Chinese-run Gwadar port duty-free

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said the strategic Chinese-run Gwadar deep sea port on the Arabian Sea would be declared a duty-free port.

The sea port in Balochistan province provides easy and short sea access to land-locked Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries.

"Gwadar should be a gift for the entire region," the Prime Minister said, addressing the National Assembly.

Sharif said soon he would get in touch with all political parties and stakeholders to designate the port as duty-free.

"I request all parties to sit with us and give Gwadar the status of a free port and make a new administrative system for it," he said.

Sharif said the port would bring Pakistan and other regional countries closer and during his visit to Tajikistan, the leaders of Tajikistan expressed desire to increase connectivity between the two countries.

Gwadar is the final destination of USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor linking western China to the Arabian Sea.

Gwadar Port is owned by the government-owned Gwadar Port Authority and operated by Chinese firm -- China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC).

Sharif also announced to build motorways in all provinces and launch new projects of electricity generation.