Strategic Importance of Gwadar Port in Central Asia

Abstract

The paper evaluates the geostrategic importance of Gwadar, the expectation of an economic corridor, the opportunities for industrial development, and the economic benefits via Gwadar Port. Gwadar is not only going to play an important role in Pakistan’s economy, but it is also likely to influence other neighbouring countries in the region, like China, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Russia, Iran, etc. The forecast trade of Gwadar port is based on the transit potential of cargo activities to Western areas of China. Central Asia and Afghanistan, in addition to the flow of natural resources from Central Asian Republics, cargo transshipment and the domestic cargo import and export activities. In the near future competition of the regional ports within different levels will also be examined. Pakistan is seen as a window of strategic opportunity for the regional trade. The throbbing economy of China may be demanding more than the supply line. Central Asian natural resources to the south are considered to gravitate to Pakistan. Pakistan presents a very important corridor of the Indian Ocean and Gulf to Central Asia. Pakistan requires addressing all the concerns and issues to develop Gwadar as a regional energy corridor. Gwadar Port has great trade value, and it is of growing importance to Pakistan in the region. The study is based on secondary sources and primary data collected through different types of articles published in different journals, both economic/business, minutes of meetings, news sources, internet sources, and many previous articles based on that framework, which provides better understanding to the readers and subject also.