Iqbal seeks faster work on Nokundi-Gwadar road corridor
Planning minister proposes a joint working group of federal and Balochistan officials and mining companies after meeting a Barrick delegation.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has called for faster work on the proposed Nokundi-Gwadar road corridor, saying road and rail connections to the coast are needed to move Balochistan's minerals to export markets.
Iqbal met senior representatives of Barrick Mining Corporation on Thursday, according to Gwadar Pro, which reported that he asked for coordination between the federal government, the Balochistan government and mining companies to push the corridor forward.
The minister proposed a joint working group to settle the corridor's technical requirements, feasibility, financing and implementation. Mettis Global reported the group would bring together the Ministry of Planning, the National Highway Authority, the Balochistan government and mining companies. The Daily CPEC, citing Business Recorder, reported that Iqbal called for the group to be formed without delay.
Iqbal also asked for detailed topographical surveys and three-dimensional mapping to speed up the feasibility assessment of the missing link in the route. Gwadar Pro reported that such technical data would help assess the alignment and the infrastructure the corridor needs.
He said Pakistan aims to raise exports to $100 billion under the National Economic Transformation Plan 2035, with minerals expected to contribute a significant share, according to Gwadar Pro.
The Barrick delegation welcomed the proposed coordination mechanism and discussed technical requirements, logistics and engagement with government authorities. Company representatives also raised developing the corridor in line with applicable regulations and government approval procedures.
The Daily CPEC tied the corridor to the Reko Diq copper-gold project in Chagai district, reporting that in March 2024 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to prepare feasibility work on road and rail connections between the mining site and Gwadar Port to support the project's logistics.
The same outlet reported that a railway link of about 680 kilometres between Gwadar and Nokundi has also been under discussion, which would connect the Chagai mineral belt to the port and the national rail network.
Balochistan holds copper, gold and other mineral deposits, but moving them from remote mining areas to processing plants and export terminals depends on road and rail capacity. The corridor is intended to shorten that distance and reduce transport costs for heavy equipment and bulk shipments.
Gwadar Port, a centrepiece of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, sits on the Arabian Sea and would handle mineral cargo under the plan.
The Daily CPEC reported that the Nokundi-Gwadar road corridor remains at the planning and feasibility stage, and that construction will depend on technical assessments, financing arrangements, coordination among the stakeholders and government approvals.
How the reports differ
Gwadar Pro described the joint working group only as federal and Balochistan authorities plus mining companies, while Mettis Global named its members: the Ministry of Planning, the National Highway Authority, the Balochistan government and the mining firms. The Daily CPEC alone dated the meeting to Thursday, November 12, and set the corridor in the context of the Reko Diq project, reporting a March 2024 directive by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on road and rail links to Gwadar and a proposed railway of about 680 kilometres between Gwadar and Nokundi, citing Business Recorder. Investify carried a summary of the Mettis Global report rather than a separate account.
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