Pakistan and China have agreed to operationalise the China-Gwadar-Africa shipping corridor under the five-year maritime action plan for 2025-2029, a leading English daily has reported.
According to reports, five feeder routes and bonded warehouses will also be operationalised for trade expansion.
While Islamabad and Beijing are set to finalise the action plan aimed at developing a regional trade corridor, Gwadar will be positioned as a model “Green Port”. Feasibility studies will be carried out, and short-route infrastructure will be built alongside enhanced connectivity linking Gwadar with the Islamabad-Türkiye-Iran rail and road corridors.
Gwadar is to be developed as a trade hub for Central Asian Republics (CARs), Afghanistan and West Asia with expanded transhipment facilities.
Islamabad and Beijing will also strategise to promote Gwadar Free Zone resource utilisation. A total of 15 industries, including seafood, dates and tuna processing plants, along with petrochemical facilities, will be developed in the North Free Zone.
Single Point Mooring connectivity will be expanded while car manufacturing plants and other industries are expected to be relocated from China.
Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed with Pakistani business entities for the operationalisation of Gwadar Port and Free Zone through joint cooperation and collaboration.
Additionally, Pakistan and China will launch blue economy training for 1,000 locals in fisheries, aquaculture and logistics at the Gwadar Blue Economy Centre. These initiatives are projected to generate 25,000 jobs with a 30 per cent contribution to Gwadar’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2027.