Location

Gwadar is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It is in Pakistan's western province of Balochistan. It is about 533 km from Karachi and 120 km from the Iranian border and 380 km (240 mi) km northeast of the nearest point in Oman across the Arabian Sea.

Background

Although construction of Gwadar Port did not commence until 2002, Pakistan identified Gwadar as a port site as far back as 1954 when Gwadar was still under Omani rule. which was arranged by the contractor. However, technical and financial feasibility studies for a major deep-sea port at Gwadar were not initiated until 1993 under the Government of Pakistan's 8th Five Year Plan (1993-1997).

Construction

Gwadar Port was developed by the Government of Pakistan at a cost of USD $248 million. The construction contract was awarded to a Chinese firm and construction began on 22 March 2002 and Phase I (see below) of the Port was completed in December 2006 and inaugurated by the President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf on 20 March 2007.

Operations

Gwadar Port is owned by the government-owned Gwadar Port Authority and operated by state-run Chinese firm — China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC).Earlier it was operated by PSA International (2007-2012).