Government outlines incentives and logistics infrastructure aimed at agriculture, mining and fisheries exports.
The government told the Senate on Friday that the New Gwadar International Airport, operational since January 20, 2025, together with the Gwadar Free Zone and upgraded highway links, is expected to improve Balochistan’s access to domestic and international markets.
Responding during Question Hour on behalf of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the airport and related infrastructure were part of a broader strategy to strengthen trade logistics and economic activity in the province.
He said the Gwadar Free Zone, covering about 2,281 acres, is fully operational and designed to support trade, re-export, warehousing, distribution and industrial activities, including processing, packaging and value addition for agricultural, mineral and fisheries products.
Investors in the zone are being offered a 23-year tax holiday on federal, provincial and local taxes, leases of up to 99 years, and exemptions from import duties and sales tax on machinery and equipment. One-window facilitation, warehouses, office and industrial units, security arrangements and internal infrastructure have also been established.
On connectivity, Chaudhry said Gwadar is linked via the M-8 Ratodero–Gwadar motorway, the N-85 Hoshab–Surab highway, and the N-10 Makran Coastal Highway connecting Gwadar to Karachi via Pasni and Ormara, while the N-25 Karachi–Quetta (Chaman) highway has been upgraded with federal funding.
He added that the federal government is responsible for road connectivity between Gwadar Port, the airport and the rest of Balochistan, while warehousing and storage development at the airport falls under the Defence Division (Aviation), Civil Aviation Authority and Pakistan Airports Authority.
Responding to a supplementary question on the Ratodero road and related infrastructure, the minister said the matter primarily fell under planning authorities and that details had already been provided in the main response.
