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Pakistani 'oil city' masterplan for $10 billion Aramco refinery expected by year's end

Gwadar port, Pakistan, February 15, 2021. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Updated 20 February 2021
Khurshid Ahmed  
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Pakistani 'oil city' masterplan for $10 billion Aramco refinery expected by year's end

  • During 2019 visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed seven investment deals worth $21 billion 
  • Industrialization in Gwadar expected to increase per capita income to $15,000 by year 2025, officials say
Updated 20 February 2021
Khurshid Ahmed  

GWADAR: The planning process for the country’s largest oil city — which will house a $10 billion Aramco Oil Refinery project — in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province is expected to conclude before the end of the year, Pakistani officials said this week. 

The proposed mega oil city will be developed at an area of 80,000 acres in Gwadar District for the refining and processing of petroleum products mainly imported from the Gulf region for local and regional needs.  

“The planning for the mega oil city which will host Aramco Refinery and petrochemical complex is in progress and we will take 6 to 7 months to complete the master plan,” Shahzeb Khan Kakar, Director General of Gwadar Development Authority (GDA), told Arab News.




Shahzeb Khan Kakar, Director General of Gwadar Development Authority (GDA), speaks to Arab News on February 15, 2021 about Gwadar Oil City which will house Aramco Oil Refinery: (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)

During the 2019 visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed seven investment deals worth $21 billion that included a long-term Aramco oil refinery project, mineral development, two RNLNG power plants, Acwa Power, Saudi Fund for Pakistan, petrochemical project, and food and agriculture projects. 

The $10 billion Aramco Oil Refinery with 250,000-300,000 bpd oil refining capacity is expected to take 5-6 years from its inception to commissioning. The project will have a $1 billion petrochemical complex which will lay the foundations of the petrochemical industry in Pakistan with the production of polyethylene and polypropylene. 

“Though the federal government is directly dealing with the Saudis, we will invite them after the planning is completed,” Kakar said and added: “The oil city is equally big as Gwadar. We have made the master plan of Gwadar as a smart city at an area of 88,000 acres keeping in view requirements up to 2050.”  
Apart from the oil city, authorities in Gwadar are also developing an industrial zone that aims to attract big investment-- which is slated for completion by 2023.
“Industrialization is expected to start from 2023 with the provision of basic utilities including electricity,” Attaullah Jogezai, Managing Director of Gwadar Industrial Estate Development Authority (GIEDA) told Arab News. 
Gwadar is touted as the 'crown jewel' of the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 
Keeping in view anticipated development projects backed by Saudi and Chinese investment, the GDA chief forecasted that the per capita income of Gwadar would surge to $15,000 by 2050.  

“Fisheries, oil refinery, petrochemical complexes, shipyard, tourism industry and most importantly, the operations of Gwadar port will generate huge income and increase per capita income,” Kakar explained. 
“This can be achieved by providing electricity, protection and a sound management system.”  
Authorities working on a 300 MW coal-fired power plant and a five million gallons per day desalination plant say both projects will be functional by January 2023. 
“Regulations have been framed to allocate lands in the industrial zone,” Manzoor Hussain, additional secretary of industries for Balochistan, told Arab News and added: “Now land will be allotted only to those industrialists who will set them up within given timeframe. Our mission is to create employment in the province.”  

 

 

Topics: Pakistan Aramco Saudi Arabia

11 dead in drone strikes against Taliban in northwest Pakistan

Updated 29 March 2025
AFP
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11 dead in drone strikes against Taliban in northwest Pakistan

  • Security forces carried out three drone strikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, targeting ‘Pakistani Taliban hideouts’
  • Local residents protested the killings of ‘innocent civilians,’ saying women and children were among the victims
Updated 29 March 2025
AFP

PESHAWAR: Eleven people were killed in drone strikes in northern Pakistan on Saturday launched by the army against the Taliban, who had killed seven soldiers a day earlier, police told AFP.
Three drone strikes were carried out on Friday night in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity, targeting “Pakistani Taliban hideouts” in the region bordering Afghanistan where violence has erupted in recent months.
“It was only this morning that we learned that two women and three children were among the victims,” he said.
“In protest, local residents placed the bodies of the victims on the road,” saying that they were “innocent civilians” killed in the strikes, he added.
Another police source said that “an investigation is under way to establish whether Taliban fighters were indeed present at the sites at the time of the attack.”
“It is too early to say whether the places affected were civilian areas or whether they were sheltering Taliban,” he added.
The Pakistani Taliban — known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — announced in mid-March a “spring campaign” against security forces, threatening “ambushes, targeted attacks, suicide attacks and strikes.”
The TTP has since claimed responsibility for around 100 attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In the same province, “armed Taliban” fighters hiding in a house shot and killed seven soldiers who were carrying out an operation against them, a police source said on Saturday.
During the shoot-out, which lasted several hours, the army deployed helicopter gunships, killing eight Taliban, while six other soldiers were wounded, according to the source.
Since January 1, more than 190 people, mostly members of the security forces, have been killed in violence carried out by armed groups fighting against the government both in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Balochistan provinces, according to an AFP count.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a blast from a bomb planted by separatists on a motorbike also killed a soldier and a civilian further south in Balochistan, police officer Mohsin Ali told AFP.
The area was the scene of a spectacular attack last month when militants held hundreds of train passengers hostage and killed dozens of off-duty soldiers.
Attacks are reported every day in Pakistan’s western regions bordering Afghanistan, where the army regularly says it is killing “terrorists” during sweep operations, without, however, curbing the violence.
Attacks have increased in Pakistan in particular since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.
Islamabad accuses the Taliban government in Kabul of failing to eliminate militants who take refuge on Afghan soil to prepare attacks against Pakistan.
The Taliban government denies these accusations and in return accuses Pakistan of harboring “terrorist” cells on its soil, pointing the finger in particular at the regional branch of Daesh.
“Pakistan expects the Afghan government to assume its responsibilities,” the army said at the beginning of March, reserving “the right to take the necessary measures to respond to these threats coming from across the border.”
Last year was the deadliest year in almost a decade in Pakistan, with more than 1,600 people killed in attacks — nearly half of them security forces personnel — according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.

Pakistan markets bustle with shoppers for Eid final preparations

Updated 29 March 2025
Reuters
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Pakistan markets bustle with shoppers for Eid final preparations

  • At bazaars, shoppers browse through glittery sandals, bangles, clothes hoping to find special items for the festival
  • Although inflation has eased recently, some shoppers complained of price increases compared to regular days
Updated 29 March 2025
Reuters

KARACHI/LAHORE: Pakistani Muslims on this week crowded the night markets soon after ‘iftar’ (breaking of fast at sunset) in the final week of Ramadan as they geared up in preparation for Eid-Al-Fitr celebrations.
Markets in the biggest city Karachi and the second largest city Lahore were bustling with activity as the holy month of Ramadan neared the end ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid.
For Pakistan the festival will fall on either Monday (March 31) or Tuesday (April 1), depending on the sighting of the moon.
Shoppers browsed through glittery sandals, bangles, and new clothes hoping to find special items for the festival.
“Shopping is really an enjoyment in last days [of Ramadan]. The bazar is very lively during the last days of Ramadan, which is fun to watch,” said housewife Subia Arshad in Karachi.
Although inflation has eased recently, some shoppers complained of price increases compared to regular days.
Prices generally rise in Ramadan and ahead of Eid in Pakistan.
“Items that cost 600 ($2.14), 700 rupees ($2.50) normally, they are selling it for two thousand rupees ($7.14),” said housewife Mrs. Irfan in Lahore.
Pakistan’s annual inflation rate slowed to 1.5 percent in February, the lowest in nearly a decade and below the finance ministry’s estimates, according to early March data from the statistics bureau.
Inflation has cooled significantly, easing from 23.1 percent in February 2024.
The South Asian country, currently bolstered by a $7 billion facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) granted in September, is navigating an economic recovery.
Pakistan government has announced Eid Al-Fitr holidays from Monday (March 31) to Wednesday (April 2).

Topics: Ramadan 2025 #EidAlFitr Eid 2025

Afghan refugee leaders urge Pakistan to reassess expulsions ahead of Eid deadline

Updated 29 March 2025
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Afghan refugee leaders urge Pakistan to reassess expulsions ahead of Eid deadline

  • The government has decided to begin expelling refugees holding Afghan Citizen Cards from April
  • UN data suggest around 800,000 of the 2.8 million Afghans in Pakistan face imminent deportation
Updated 29 March 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Refugee leaders in Karachi on Saturday urged the Pakistani authorities to reconsider their plan to expel Afghan nationals, saying the prospect of deportation during Eid was the harshest blow they could expect from a country that had generously hosted them for nearly five decades.
Earlier this month, the government announced that Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders must leave Pakistan by March 31, a deadline expected to coincide with Eid al-Fitr.
According to UN data, Pakistan hosts more than 2.8 million Afghans, many of whom fled decades of war and instability in their home country. Around 1.3 million of them are formally registered as refugees and hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, which grant them legal protections.
Another 800,000 Afghans possess ACCs, a separate identity document issued by the Pakistani government that recognizes them as Afghan nationals without offering refugee status.
With the government now requiring ACC holders to leave by March 31, a deadline expected to coincide with Eid al-Fitr, nearly 800,000 Afghans, including an estimated 65,000 in Karachi, face the prospect of being forcibly returned to a country many have never even seen.
“We appeal to the government of Pakistan to reconsider its decision to expel Afghans holding Afghan Citizen Cards,” said Haji Abdullah Shah Bukhari, chairman of the refugee community in Sindh, at a news conference in Karachi.
“Pakistan has generously hosted us for nearly 47 years, and a large portion of these refugees were born in Pakistan,” he continued. “Even if the government decides to expel us, it should not be done during Eid.”
Bukhari urged the authorities to allow more time for refugees to prepare, warning that many would be forced to live in tents in Afghanistan, where they have no homes to return to.
Islamabad has previously attributed militant attacks and other crimes to Afghan nationals, who make up the largest share of migrants in the country. The government claims that militants, particularly from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operate from safe havens in Afghanistan and maintain ties with Afghans living in Pakistan to stage cross-border attacks. Kabul has consistently denied these accusations.
Bukhari, however, stressed that Afghan refugees in Pakistan had no links to militant violence in the country.
“We ourselves are victims of war and terrorism,” he said.
Mufti Rahim Ullah, another refugee elder, said his fellow nationals consider Pakistan their home.
“I arrived in Pakistan over three decades ago with my parents. I married a refugee woman born in Pakistan, and all my children were born and raised here. Pakistan is our country, and we love it. We condemn anyone who wants to harm Pakistan,” he said, adding that fear had gripped refugee settlements across Karachi.
Agha Syed Mustafa, another Afghan national and school principal, said law enforcement agencies lacked clarity during crackdowns, leading to the harassment of all of his community members, including those holding PoR cards.
“There should be clarity, and any operation should be conducted in consultation with the local [Afghan] community,” he said.
Mustafa urged the government to urgently review the deportation decision and allow refugees more time.
“They should be given more time so that they can plan their return to Afghanistan,” he said.

Topics: Afghan Refugees in pakistan

Pakistan PM greets Gulf leaders ahead of Eid, discusses trade and investment

Updated 29 March 2025
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Pakistan PM greets Gulf leaders ahead of Eid, discusses trade and investment

  • Shehbaz Sharif called the top leaders of Qatar and Oman and discussed bilateral relations
  • Qatar will send a delegation to Pakistan to evaluate investment options immediately after Eid
Updated 29 March 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the top leaders of Qatar and Oman on Saturday to extend Eid Al-Fitr greetings and reaffirm his country’s desire to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, his office said.
Pakistan has actively sought to strengthen ties with Gulf nations in recent years, with countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates providing generous financial assistance to Islamabad amid a prolonged economic crisis.
Pakistan continues to seek foreign investment and opportunities to send more skilled labor to the region and boost remittance inflows, a critical component of its economy. High-level visits, investment dialogues and export-related events have been held across Gulf states as part of these efforts.
The phone calls to the Qatari and Omani leaders came ahead of Eid Al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and amid preparations for increased economic engagement.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic call with the Amir of the State of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani today and conveyed his warm greetings and best wishes to the Amir and the brotherly people of Qatar on Eid ul Fitr,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
“The two leaders also reaffirmed their common desire to further strengthen the close brotherly relations in the trade and investment,” it added. “To carry forward discussions on investment, it was agreed that a delegation from Qatar shall visit Pakistan immediately after Eid.”
Sharif also expressed appreciation for Qatar’s diplomatic efforts, particularly in Gaza, and recalled his visit to Doha last October, where he attended the Manzar cultural exhibition hosted by Sheikha Al Mayassa. He proposed holding a similar exhibition in Lahore, a suggestion the Qatari leader reportedly accepted.
In a separate phone call, the prime minister spoke with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman, exchanging Eid greetings and expressing Pakistan’s interest in expanding cooperation across all sectors.
“The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction on the recent successful visit of Pakistan’s Commerce Minister to Muscat, which would pave the way for the two sides to explore mutually beneficial avenues for cooperation,” said the PM Office in another statement.
“The Prime Minister also reiterated his invitation to the Sultan of Oman and requested him to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience,” it added.
The Omani Sultan warmly reciprocated the Eid greetings and conveyed his best wishes for the people of Pakistan.

Topics: Eid 2025

Pakistan announces discovery of strategic antimony reserves used in making military equipment

Updated 29 March 2025
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Pakistan announces discovery of strategic antimony reserves used in making military equipment

  • Antimony can be used in military equipment such as infrared missiles, nuclear weapons and night vision goggles
  • The announcement comes just days ahead of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, aimed at attracting foreign businesses
Updated 29 March 2025
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: Pakistan has discovered significant reserves of antimony, a critical metal traditionally used in batteries, semiconductors and flame retardants, in the mineral-rich southwestern province of Balochistan, the country’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) said on Saturday.
The strategic significance of the discovery lies in its use in military equipment such as infrared missiles, nuclear weapons, night vision goggles and as a hardening agent for bullets and tanks. China is currently the largest producer of antimony in the world, though the discovery could also prove highly beneficial for Pakistan’s economy and defense sector.
“Significant antimony reserves have been discovered in Balochistan, and a comprehensive commercial plan has been developed by the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC),” the SIFC statement informed.
“OGDCL and PMDC have entered into a 50:50 partnership, with the formal announcement of the joint venture expected during the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 on April 8–9,” it added.
Pakistan has designated mining and minerals as a priority sector for national economic development, aiming to reduce its reliance on imports and enhance exports. The government has launched a series of reforms and events to attract local and international investment in the sector. The SIFC, a civil-military body established in 2023, serves as a one-window platform to streamline such investments and facilitate economic activity across key sectors.
According to the SIFC, Pakistan is also making headway in acquiring ten mineral blocks in Gilgit-Baltistan, where gold, copper, nickel and cobalt deposits have been confirmed.
In Punjab, coordination is underway between the OGDCL and the provincial mineral department to explore mineral deposits in Chiniot, where previous surveys have indicated iron, copper and gold potential.
Pakistan is also exploring the possibility of leveraging refining facilities in Oman to process extracted antimony, which would reduce local infrastructure constraints and accelerate the commercialization process.
To support the mining sector’s long-term growth, the SIFC said the government wants to align academic curricula with international standards and has committed to working with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and local universities to produce a skilled workforce.
The announcements come just days ahead of the high-profile Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025, where the government is expected to highlight the country’s mineral wealth and attract both domestic and international investors.

Topics: Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)

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