Gwadar Port Authority


The Gwadar Port Authority is a Pakistani government organization that owns and manages the Gwadar Port, a major seaport located in Gwadar, Balochistan, Pakistan and situated on the Arabian Sea. The GPA was established on 17 October 2002 by a presidential ordinance.
The Gwadar Port Authority Ordinance, 2002 set the GPA's responsibilities as planning, constructing, operating, managing, and maintaining the Gwadar Port. It operates under the administrative authority of the Maritime Secretary of Pakistan and is under the operational oversight of the China Overseas Port Holding Company.
WWW gwadarport.gov.pk

Operations

Gwadar Port is owned by the government-owned Gwadar Port Authority and operated by China Overseas Port Holding Company, a state-run Chinese firm. Prior to COPHC, the port was operated by the Port of Singapore Authority.

Port of Singapore Authority (2007–2013)

Following the completion of Phase I, the Government of Pakistan in February 2007 signed a 40-year agreement with PSA International for the development and operation of the port, and an adjacent 584-acre special economic zone. PSA International was the highest bidder for the Gwadar Port, after its competitor DP World withdrew from the bidding process. PSA was granted a wide range of tax concessions, including exemption from corporate tax for 20 years, land for a special economic zone, duty-free imports of materials and equipment for construction and operations of the port, and duty-free shipping and bunker oil for 40 years. In addition to these incentives, the provincial government of Balochistan was also asked to exempt PSA International from the levy of provincial and district taxes. According to the agreement with PSA, the Government of Pakistan was to get a fixed 9% share of the revenue from cargo and maritime services, in addition to 15% of revenues earned from the adjacent special economic zone.
In September 2011, The Wall Street Journal reported that Gwadar was being underused as commercial port, and that Pakistan had asked the Chinese government to assume operations of the port.
PSA also reportedly sought to withdraw from its contract with the Pakistani Government, and expressed willingness to sell its share in the project to a Chinese firm after the Pakistani Navy failed to transfer land required for development of the planned 584-acre free trade zone. PSA also did not invest the agreed $550 million into the port, on account of the poor security situation in Balochistan in the period between 2007 and 2013.
The government of Pakistan also failed to invest in requisite infrastructure works. The Supreme Court of Pakistan further issued a stay order against the allotment of land to PSA on account of a public petition.

China Overseas Port Holding Company (2013–present)

On 18 February 2013, Pakistan awarded a contract for the construction and operation of Gwadar Port to a Chinese state-owned enterprise. As per details of the contract, the port would remain as property of Pakistan, but would be operated by the state-run Chinese firm – China Overseas Port Holding Company. The contract signing ceremony was held on 18 February 2013 in Islamabad, and was attended by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Chinese Ambassador Liu Jian, as well as various federal ministers and members of parliament, as well as senior government officials. The ceremony also marked the transfer of the concession agreement from the PSA to the COPHC.
As per this agreement, 91% of the revenue generated by Gwadar Port will go to COPHC and 9% to Gwadar Port Authority. In March 2019, the Pakistani Senate was informed that during last three years, total gross revenue of Rs 358.151 million had been generated from Gwadar Port, out of which the share going to Gwadar Port Authority was Rs 32.324 million.

Developments

Regarding infrastructure advancements, the GPA has devised a strategy to provide 20 MW of power to energize not only Gwadar Port but also both Gwadar Free Zones. This initiative is a component of a comprehensive plan aimed at stimulating economic activities and expediting industrialization in the Gwadar region.
In 2022 to support the local fishing community, the federal cabinet sanctioned the allocation of approximately Rs.823 million to the GPA. This funding is intended for the acquisition of boat engines for 3,291 underprivileged fishermen residing in Gwadar. Each fisherman is earmarked to receive Rs250,000 to facilitate this initiative.

Chairmen

No.NameStart dateEnd date
0Noor-ul-Haq Baloch23 June 2025Incumbent
1Shah Irfan Ahmed Gharsheen12 June 202517 June 2025
2M. Daud Baloch30 January 202512 June 2025
3Pasand Khan Buledi1 October 202230 January 2025
4Naseer Khan Kashani1 March 201930 September 2022
5Dostain Khan Jamaldini29 November 20131 March 2019
6Capt. Abdul Raziq Durrani1 July 201329 November 2013
7Vice Adm. Azhar Shamim Anwar6 March 20131 July 2013
8Dr. Parvaiz Abbas6 February 20126 March 2013
9Capt. Abdul Raziq Durrani11 December 20116 February 2012
10Muhammad Aslam Hayat4 July 201011 December 2011
11Ghulam Farooq25 January 20103 July 2010
12Muhammad Aslam Hayat9 June 200924 January 2010
13Khair Muhammad Shahwani20 May 20098 June 2009
14Rear Admiral Ehsan Saeed20 May 200720 May 2009
15Commodore Munir Wahid9 October 200620 May 2007
16Rear Admiral Ehsan Chaudhary15 August 20068 October 2006
17Zia-ur-Rehman8 April 200615 August 2006
18Akbar Ali A. Pesnani21 August 20047 April 2006
19Rear Admiral Sarfraz Khan21 January 200221 August 2004