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Pakistan had identified Gwadar as a port site as far back as 1954 when Gwadar was still under omani rule. After 200 years of omani rule, Pakistan purchased Gwadar from oman for $3 million on 8 September 1958. Most of the money for the purchase from oman came from donations, with Prince Sultan Mohammad Shah, the reigning aga Khan of that time, being the leading contributor. Pakistan-oman agreement had two important clauses: all Balochistan would form catchment for recruiting omani forces and the resources of Gwadar would be further developed. Resultantly, the Baloch people constitute a major part of omani forces. At that time, Gwadar was a small and underdeveloped fishing village with a population of a few thousand, now it is a sprawling township with a population of 80,000.
In this era of globalization no country could afford to live in isolation. Pakistan is actively pursuing various regional connectivity projects like TaPI, caSa1000, IP, Torkhum-Jalalabad-Kabul motorway, eco container project etc. During the mid-1950s Pakistan approached the united States and in mid-1970s it approached erstwhile uSSr for developing Gwadar port, but both did not show any interest. Ultimately, it is the all-weather friend china that has come up to realize this project. Phase I of Gwadar Port was developed by the Government of Pakistan at a cost of uSD $248 million. Phase II at the projected cost of uSD $932 million is under construction. China has been instrumental in design of the project. China is providing approximately 80% of the cost of the port in the shape of grants and soft loans. Over 500 chinese experts and workers are working on the project.
The benefits of Gwadar projects are by no means likely to remain restricted to china and Pakistan as the entire region is destine d to be nefit from it. A trans-regional facility is propping up that will drastically cut down distances between various destination, create new routes and provide...