Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, led a crucial meeting focused on overcoming the developmental challenges at Gwadar Port and its Free Zone. The session was marked by detailed discussions on pressing concerns such as infrastructure deficiencies—including water, electricity, gas, and sewage systems—as well as the slow progress of the Gwadar Safe City Project.

According to Press Information Department, Secretary Planning Awais Manzoor Sumra and senior officials from several provinces and ministries gathered to deliberate on the bottlenecks delaying key projects. The meeting saw Minister Iqbal sharply criticizing the slow pace of the Gwadar Safe City project, highlighting it as unacceptable and urging for expedited efforts to ensure the project’s swift completion.

Minister Iqbal reiterated the government’s strong commitment to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), emphasizing the strategic importance of the projects not only for regional growth but also for the broader bilateral relations with China. “We are fully committed to the development of CPEC and are taking all necessary steps to address urgent concerns, boost exports, and resolve challenges. We remain grateful to China for its continued support in this endeavor,” the minister affirmed.

The minister underscored the commitment to enhancing national security measures to ensure the safety and security of Chinese nationals, reflecting the high priority the government places on these efforts. The emphasis was also on accelerating all development projects in Gwadar to meet their scheduled completions promptly.