Transforming Gwadar: A Vision for a Modern Port City

The development of this cutting-edge urban center comes with a hefty price tag, estimated at around Rs1,000 billion. To make this vision a reality, the government recognizes the necessity of involving private sector investment through the Built-Operate and Transfer (BOT) model. This is a pragmatic response to the limited resources available under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

A high-ranking official from the Planning Commission, who participated in a crucial meeting, divulged that the Gwadar Smart City Plan will be presented to the steering committee within a month. "We are diligently working towards achieving a consensus on the Gwadar smart city plan," the official stated.

Nevertheless, former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr. Nadeem Ul Haq, expressed reservations about the approach, advocating for a departure from the conventional Master Plan model. Instead, he proposed the development of specific area plans tailored to the needs of Gwadar's residents. Dr. Ul Haq emphasized the importance of involving the local populace in the decision-making process to instill a sense of ownership.

In a statement released by the Planning Ministry, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar, chaired a meeting to evaluate the progress of the Gwadar City Master Plan project. Notable attendees included Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Commander Southern Command, Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, Balochistan Provincial Minister for Information, Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Planning Secretary, Zafar Hasan, and other dignitaries.

During the meeting, the Director General of the Gwadar Development Authority, Dr. Sajjad Hussain, and CPEC Project Director, Hasan Daud, briefed the participants about the Master Plan. The consensus was to shape Gwadar into a modern smart port city, aligning with global standards.

Minister Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar instructed the relevant authorities to kickstart the process of formulating investor-friendly regulations and models to attract substantial investments into the port city. Furthermore, it was decided that Gwadar would adopt an eco-friendly approach, ensuring a green and clean environment by strategically placing heavy industries and oil-related facilities away from the city center.

The minister stressed the importance of providing utilities in tandem with the city's growth, emphasizing a professional and financially diligent approach in developing Gwadar as a state-of-the-art metropolis. All necessary steps will be taken to acquire land and resources to meet the city's developmental needs, the minister affirmed.

In addition to these significant developments, the meeting also addressed the expansion plan for Gwadar Port, agreeing to incorporate it into the overall city Master Plan.