Future Of Gwadar
Owing to its strategic location and God gifted natural resources, the Balochistan
Province of Pakistan has always been at the centre stage of regional and global
politics. The famous writer and geographer, Robert D. Kaplan describes the province
of Balochistan as, “One key to its fate is the future of Gwadar, a strategic port whose
development will either unlock the riches of Central Asia, or plunge Pakistan into a
savage, and potentially terminal civil war.”
Unfortunately, Pakistan could not unlock the riches of the Central Asia and Caspian
yet. However, it has experiencing the wide spread instability and law and order
situation in the province of Balochistan, ever since the developmental work on the
Gwadar port started in 2002. However, now, there is an improvement in the law and
order situation in Balochistan and with the Chinese taking over the Gwadar port in
2013, the full operationalisation of the Port in near future, it is expected that,
economic activities will further enhance.
Since the Port is strategically located near the shipping lanes (route), connecting
three main continents; Asia, Africa, and Europe, therefore, it has attained the status
of a key strategic and commercial port. Indeed, over 60% of global trade and
transportation of oil tankers takes place through the neighbouring waters of Straits
