Competition hots up for Port Gwadar management deal

Islamabad: The inauguration of China-financed Gwadar Port has been planned in June this year.

The government is giving final touches to arrangements for inauguration of the port that will usher in a new era of economic prosperity for the country, Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri said.

“The Gwadar deep-sea port will be inaugurated most likely in June. The exact date will be fixed the next month or early June,” said the Minister.

Before the inauguration, the government is also likely to finalize the leasing of Gwadar Port operations to the successful bidder. A senior government official, who asked not to be named, said that apart from other companies a well-known Dubai-based company is interested in getting the contract for ports operations at Gwadar.

According to the official, the government is also interested in engaging the Dubai-based firm in Gwadar operations for that is considered to be beneficial in a sense that the same company is equipped with better understanding of operating the world’s busy ports. The government and the Dubai-based company had some informal negotiations on the subject.

China, which is the major financial contributor in the construction of Gwadar Port, is keen that some Chinese company should have the rights of operating the new port, the official said.

However, Mr Ghauri denied that the government had held informal talks with any company on granting the operations’ contract. The company to be awarded the contract will definitely be a successful one among the bidders. Several companies have submitted their bids and they will be opened in free, fair and transparent manner. Media organizations will be invited for the same, he added.

The Minister, however, admitted that some companies from the United Arab Emirates are taking part in bidding for the Gwadar port operations. But, at the same time, he also said that there are also a number of Chinese companies in the competition. The Minister declined to give the exact number of companies, both local and foreign, which are aspiring to get the contract for the port’s operations.

The Gwadar Port inauguration had been delayed in the past due to deteriorating law and order in Balochistan. However, the government this time is serious about doing business, the official said. According to the official, President General Pervez Musharraf is keen to inaugurate the port by the time next general elections.

Pakistan identified Gwadar as a port site in 1964.

However, it was only in 2001 that significant steps towards making the proposal a reality were taken, when China agreed to participate in the construction and development of the deep-sea port. In March 2002, Chinese vice premier Wu Bangguo, with General Pervez Musharaf, laid the foundation for Gwadar Port.

The credit goes to General Pervez Musharraf for commencement of work on Gwadar Port. And that is why the government is keen to inaugurate the port, which will be a historical turnaround.