Sister ports: Chabahar, Gwadar to complement each other

Speakers highlight prospects of port and its global role

ISLAMABAD: Chabahar and Gwadar will complement each other in times to come, and if Pakistan plays its cards in its own interest, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will prove to be a game changer, in real terms.

Former naval chief Admiral (retd) Asif Sandila said this at the launch
of a book, ‘Gwadar: Balance in Transition’ by Dr Azhar Ahmad.

Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted the book launch at China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC).

The book, “Gwadar: Balance in Transition” is an in-depth study of the multi-dimensional aspects of Gwadar and contextualizes the evolving dynamics of the maritime affairs in the region.

Commentators at the book launch included, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Farrokh Ahmed, NDU Faculty of Contemporary Studies Dean Dr Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Zhao Lijian and the author Dr Azhar Ahmed, who is Head of Department, Humanities and Social Sciences, Bahria University, Islamabad.

Lijian said Chinese grants are being used to upgrade schools and hospitals in Gwadar. He gave a detailed account of the current state of development of the Chinese projects in Gwadar.

He said that all these projects are for the welfare of the people of Balochistan, which include New Gwadar International Port, Gwadar Smart Port City; Eastbay Expressway and power plants.

Many of these projects are being implemented under Chinese foreign aid and grant system, which will ultimately benefit the people of Balochistan, Lijian said.

ISSI Chairman Ambassador Khalid Mahmood while briefly dwelling on the history of the port, stated that Gwadar is the key to future development of Pakistan. Although, the chairman said, Gwadar is being built primarily for trade and commerce, it also has strategic importance. Talking about the sisterhood of Chabahar and Gwadar, he emphasised that mere declaration is not going to be enough.

Rear Admiral Farrokh Ahmed pressing on the need to evolve Pakistan’s maritime strategy in the transforming regional and global scenarios, commented that given the author’s expertise on maritime affairs, the present publication helps understand the intricate dynamics of the maritime arena.

He emphasised on the need to capitalise on the abundant maritime resources which Pakistan has been blessed with.

Shedding light on the conceptual framework of the book, Dr Cheema appreciated the author’s diligence and perceptive analyses of maritime affairs and elements of power.

Referring to the operational affairs of the Gwadar port, he said that Chinese have been our tested friends and they never let us down, whereas other friends abandoned us many a time.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2018.