Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Friday that Gwadar Port could generate over $850 million annually in exports through targeted investment, improved infrastructure, and focused policymaking. The remarks came during a high-level meeting on the port’s operationalisation, attended by key stakeholders including officials from the Gwadar Port Authority, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Industries.
Gwadar, a deep-sea port located in Balochistan near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, is central to Pakistan’s regional trade ambitions. Emphasising its untapped potential, the minister laid out a comprehensive roadmap to boost local economic activity by capitalising on value-added fisheries and date exports, the region’s two strongest sectors.
Chaudhry highlighted that Balochistan accounts for 76.2% of Pakistan’s coastline and has an estimated fish catch potential of 300,000 tonnes annually, yet current output remains far below this figure due to outdated technology and capacity constraints. He noted that modernising 34 existing fish processing units and enhancing packaging and export standards could help the fisheries sector alone generate up to $645 million in annual revenue.
The minister also pointed to Panjgur and Turbat districts, which produce over 225,000 tonnes of dates each year, accounting for more than half of the country’s total. With appropriate value addition, this segment could contribute an additional $200–205 million in export earnings.
To support regional trade and investment, the government also plans to increase air connectivity to Gwadar. Pakistan International Airlines is expected to raise weekly flights from one to three, with new routes under consideration between Gwadar–Karachi and Gwadar–Islamabad. A chartered flight system for investors and businesspeople is also being explored.
Earlier this month, the Maritime Affairs Ministry announced plans to expand Gwadar’s shipping lines and introduce a ferry service linking Pakistan with GCC countries, further positioning the port as a vital transhipment and logistics hub in the Arabian Sea.
Chaudhry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering local businesses, improving infrastructure, and leveraging Gwadar’s strategic location to attract foreign investment and enhance Pakistan’s maritime trade.
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