The recently expanded Gwadar deepwater port in Pakistan that is part of the so-called China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is nearing completion.
According to Zhang Baozhong, chairman and CEO of China Overseas Ports Holding Company Ltd, "The port cranes are almost ready, and we are thinking that the port will be (at) full operation by the end of this year." The port will process about 1 million tons of cargo next year, most of which will be incoming construction materials to be used in projects related to CPEC. The port city Gwadar, in southwestern Baluchistan province, is central to the CPEC.
Pakistan's army chief has accused regional rival India of attempting to undermine the $46 billion project with China. Speaking at a development conference on the impact of CPEC, Pakistan's chief of army staff, Gen. Raheel Sharif, stated: "I must highlight that India, our immediate neighbor, has openly challenged this development initiative. ... I would like to make a special reference to Indian intelligence agency RAW, which is blatantly involved in destabilizing Pakistan. Let me make it clear that we will not allow anyone to create impediments and turbulence in any part of Pakistan."