Islamabad: The government is evaluating a plan to route 60% of public sector imports, including essential commodities like wheat, fertilizer, and sugar, through Gwadar Port to enhance its utilization as a trade hub.
The proposal was deliberated in a federal cabinet committee meeting chaired by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal. Attendees included Maritime Affairs Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh and senior officials from the commerce, maritime affairs, interior, and planning ministries.
According to an official statement, the committee was formed to provide actionable recommendations to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. It reviewed ongoing initiatives and discussed strategies to maximize Gwadar Port’s role in national trade.
The committee focused on routing bulk imports, such as wheat, sugar, and urea, through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to boost Gwadar’s activity.
The feasibility of using Gwadar for containerized imports and exports was also examined.
Members highlighted the need to involve private-sector commodities by offering incentives and proposed forming a dedicated working group for private-sector collaboration.
The committee explored Gwadar’s viability for transshipment and trade routes to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs), aligning with China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal outlined a two-phase plan to integrate Gwadar into the national trade framework, focusing on short-term gains and long-term strategies to create a business-friendly environment.
The committee resolved to meet monthly and report quarterly to the federal cabinet, ensuring consistent progress monitoring. The initiative is seen as a step towards realizing Gwadar’s potential as a critical player in regional trade and connectivity.
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