Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif along with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi inaugurated the 100MW Polan-Gabd electricity transmission line project from Iran to Gwadar at Mand-Pishin crossing point of Pakistan-Iran border on Thursday.
The two leaders also inaugurated a sustenance marketplace at the Mand-Pishin crossing point.
According to Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, the project was pending since 2009 and has been completed in record time of four months under the leadership of Prime Minister Sharif.
She said the project will unleash development, trade, business and employment opportunities contributing to future prosperity of people of Gwadar and Balochistan.
PM reaches Gwadar
Earlier, the prime minister reached Gwadar from where he left for the Pishin area of Balochistan on the Pakistan-Iran border to hold an informal meeting with Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi.
The prime minister is accompanied by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan.
They were received by Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, as well as Akhtar Mengal, Khalid Magsi and Zubeda Jalal.
The provincial chief secretary and police chief are also present on the occasion.
The prime minister will jointly inaugurate the Polan-Gabd project of importing 110 megawatts of electricity from Iran.
Pakistan is currently importing 200MW of electricity from Iran and there is scope to increase power import to 500MW.
The sources further said the Iranian president and PM Sharif will officially inaugurate the Iran-Pakistan Border Market. Three new trade markets are also being established on the border.
One such market has been inaugurated at the Mand area on the border, while work in under way on opening two others.
According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the Mand-Pishin Border Market is being established on the common border, which is one of the six such markets.
The market will lead to cross-border trade, economic development and promotion of local businesses. Moreover, 100MW of additional electricity will be obtained from Iran through the Polan-Gabd transmission line.
The additional electricity will play an important role in meeting the energy needs of the country.