[🇵🇰] Gwadar News & Updates

[ghazi]

[H3]Govt greenlights "Gwadar rail freight connectivity"[/H3]
Yasir Habib Khan | Gwadar Pro
Apr 7, 2024

GWADAR - In a major development, the Pakistani government has green-lighted the mega project "Gwadar Rail Freight Connectivity" that aims to link Gwadar Port with the rest of the country, especially the Balochistan hinterlands.

The Gwadar Rail Freight Connectivity, under the Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan, will reinforce inland connections, enhance cargo flows, and ensure Gwadar's competitiveness as a newly emerging modern port.

It will also unlock environmental benefits by reducing the logistics and transportation carbon footprint through train freight movement, including cargo loading and unloading from the sea leg.

In this regard, Pakistan Railways and the Gwadar Port Authority have already carried out a detailed survey outlining the framework for laying down the railway track and allied structures. According to the master plan of Gwadar city and port, the track is planned for construction along Koh-e-Batil and the Eastbay Expressway.

The proposed track will connect the berths of Gwadar port with the main railway yard of Gwadar, which will be extended further upcountry. For this purpose, the Gwadar Port Authority and port operator have begun vacating the infrastructures along the route.

Following instructions from Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif, the Gwadar Development Authority has initiated efforts to acquire 50 acres of land, adjacent to the already acquired Pakistan Railway land, for the construction of a container yard.

A Gwadar Port Authority official stated that the Senate Committee on Maritime Affairs has deliberated on the crucial option of railway connectivity from Gwadar Port with the ML-1 and Quetta regions. During the deliberations, the committee envisioned rail connections as playing a pivotal role in facilitating trade and transportation, positioning Gwadar Port as a pivotal hub in both national and international logistics networks.

 

[ghazi]

[H3]GPA completes 80% work for 10 MW electricity to Gwadar North Free Zone[/H3]
Gwadar Pro
Apr 21, 2024

Almost 80 percent work has been completed to provide 10 Mega Watt (MW) electricity in Gwadar North Free Zone, a shot in the arms for investors and companies desperately seeking power supply since the establishment of Gwadar North Free Zone. Gwadar Port Authority as executing agency will complete entire work in the third week of May.

Instead over the ground, 300 meters long underground power cables are being laid down from Deep Sea Port grid station with a sub-station recently constructed at the entrance of North Free Zone. The sub-station has the control panels, HT room and cabinets to manage supply of electricity to the factories in the zone.

From the sub-station a 5 km long 132 KV distribution line carrying two feeders of 5 MW each are being laid. On reaching the factories' premises inside North Free Zone where companies including Han Geng and Agven are operating, step-down transformers will be installed to supply electricity as per their demands. Sigma, a Karachi based company is constructing the distribution network in the Gwadar North Free Zone.

Gwadar Prot Authority (GPA) official told Gwadar Pro that in light of joint feasibility survey conducted by Quetta Electric Power Supply Company (QEPSC) and China Overseas Ports Holding Company (COPHC), Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) is executing the entire process with full throttle. Power supply will start from Gwadar Port Grid Station to main entrance of North Free Zone, he explained.

"The Deep Sea Port sole Grid Station was established in 2019 exclusively for Gwadar port and Free Zone through 3 feeders. Since inadequate power was available at the disposal of the QEPSC, Grid Station had to rely on diesel generators for production of thermal power using expensive fossil fuel at high cost in past," he added.

On a query, he said, "after power supply work completes the good news is that we will turn off 8.5 MW Diesel Generator and will link up Gwadar Port's sole Grid Station with three sources."

"One source is national grid station of Quetta. Second source is Gabd-Remdan of Iran border. Third source is Nag-Besima section of another Iran Border," he added.

COPHC official said that as matter of fact electricity being produced through 8.5 MW Diesel Generator costs around Rs. 90 per unit. However, after availability of 10 MW power in Gwadar North Free Zone, electricity cost to will be around Rs. 55 per unit. It means investors and factory owners will enjoy the saving of around Rs. 35 per unit. This will directly Impact financial leverage and production growth not only for current enterprises but also for potential investors," COPHC official said.

 

[Ghazi52]

Turkmenistan is the first Central Asian country to reach Gwadar port.
Turkmenistan, China will become the first Central Asian country to access Gwadar Port under Pakistan Economic Corridor. A committee has been formed to review the agreement between Gwadar Port and Turkman Bashi Port.

 

[Ghazi52]

Pakistan Gwadar City View​

Xinhua
Sep 17, 2024

This photo shows a view of Gwadar city and its seaside in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, Sept. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)



GWADAR, Pakistan, Sept. 17, 2024 (Xinhua) -- The Gwadar Port is a natural deep-water port bordering the Arabian Sea in Gwadar city, Balochistan province, southwest of Pakistan. People stand on mountains close to the coast and enjoy the beautiful scenery, with a buzz of ships coming and going.

Gwadar connects the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia, with a population of over 90,000.

People enjoy the scenery in Gwadar city of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, Sept. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

This photo shows a seaside view in Gwadar city of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, Sept. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

 

[Ghazi52]

Gwadar Port gears up for Afghan transshipment​

Gwadar Pro
Sep 24, 2024

GWADAR - Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) has started flexing muscles to kick start containerized shipment fully loaded with Australian fertilizer to Afghanistan through Eastbay Expressway under fresh custom modalities.

Around 24,000 metric tons of DAP fertilizers that came from Australian ship had been processed and discharged by Gwadar Port on September 20. All the fertilizer has also been stored in warehouse at Gwadar Free Zone North.

Gwadar Port Authority official told Gwadar Pro that the warehouse is jointly owned and by two Pakistani firms, KB Ferilizers and Agven Limited. “The fertilizer after being packaged will be sent to Afghanistan through containers. Moreover, apart from importing DAP, Agven is also manufacturing Muriate of Potash (MOP) which is it exported to the tariff area (Pakistani market) and Afghanistan,” he added.

On a query, he responded that more than 230 ships berthed with approximately 1.5 million metric tons of cargo have been processed and discharged from Gwadar Port over the last eight years. On November 13, 2016, the first shipment of trade cargo was rolled out from Gwadar Port. It is estimated that Gwadar Port if equipped with designed operational system as per Gwadar Master plan, it can handle 400-500 million tons of cargo annually. Mind it, Karachi and Port Qasim, both can handle 120 million tons annually as of today.

 

[Ghazi52]

Gwadar Port prepares for Afghan transshipment: 24,000 tons of Australian fertilizer processed and stored, ready for containerized shipment to Afghanistan.

The port has handled 1.5M tons of cargo in 8 years, with potential to reach 400-500M tons annually.