Islamabad: Gwadar port, a key component of the $46 billion (Dh168 billion) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, will be operational by the end of 2016, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the convocation of a university here, the president said CPEC would make Pakistan a major hub of economic activity in the region.
The president said that CPEC includes several energy initiatives including coal, oil, solar and nuclear projects, adding that upon completion of these projects — by 2018 — the country will be rid of its power shortage problems.
He called upon students to acquire knowledge and skills in the fields of information technology, banking and commerce in order to meet the requirements of the mega corridor project.
The president said Gwadar, on the southwest Arabian Sea coast in Balochistan province, is an important part of CPEC.
Officials say an expressway linking Kashgar of China’s Xinjiang region and Gwadar is under construction and will be completed in 2017, and a railway link is also planned.
An international airport is to be built at Gwada, along with various infrastructure projects.
