Quetta: The China Communications Construction Company, Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform, and the Gwadar Development Authority, in a joint venture, have released a 75-page master plan document which details an elaborate road map detailing how Gwadar is set to become the economic hub of South Asia, a news source reported. As per the publication, the master plan is to become the third-largest contributor to Pakistan’s economy with a GDP per capita of USD 15,000.
Pakistan’s largest international airport, man-made islands, luxury resorts, mega shopping malls, high-tech industries, tax-free environment, and high-paid jobs are included in the blueprint. According to the document, Gwadar’s economy is expected to surpass USD 30 billion per annum in the long run — generating an expected 1 to 1.2 million high paid jobs.
Gwadar mega projects include a USD 5 billion investment in the city’s power sector, USD 1 billion in producing 700,000 cubic metre of fresh water per day through desalination plants, the development of a central business district, the creation of a man-made island, and Pakistan’s tallest building in a tax-free haven. Additionally, Gwadar will be the country’s first weapon-free city and will include urban security systems, such as CCTV cameras, urban video and alarm networks, vehicle management, and police management programmes.
