The Chabahar Port and Chabahar Region
Chābahār (Persian: چابهار), previously also Bandar Beheshti, is an Iranian city and a free port (Free Trade Zone) on the coast of the Gulf of Oman.
Chabahar is situated on the Makran Coast of the Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran and is officially designated as a Free Trade and Industrial Zone by Iran's government. Due to its free trade zone status, the city has increased in significance in international trade. The overwhelming majority of the city's inhabitants are ethnic Baluchis speaking the Balochi language.
Economic significance
Chabahar is the closest and best access point of Iran to the Indian Ocean. For this reason, Chabahar is the focal point of Iran for development of the east of the country through expansion and enhancement of transit routes among countries situated in the northern part of the Indian Ocean and Central Asia. The hope is that with the development of transit routes, and better security and transit services, the benefits will reach the area residents.
Chabahar's economic sectors are fishery industries and commercial sector, fishery sectors with largest amount of country's fish catch, mainly located out of the Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone. Growing commercial sector located at free trade area with high potentiality to turn to a place that would connect business growth centers in south Asia (India) and Middle East (Dubai) to central Asian and Afghanistan market. Government plan to link Chabahar free trade area to Iran's main rail network which is connected to central Asia and Afghanistan would provide more capability for Chabahar to foster faster logistics sector that is a basic to achieve better position comparing to its competitor (Pakistani port of Gwadar)
Chabahar Port a symbol of the new Iran-India strategic alliance
India is helping develop the Chabahar port and that would give it access to the oil and gas resources in Iran and the Central Asian states, in this it is competing with the Chinese which is building the Gwadar port, in Pakistani Baluchistan.
Iran plans to use Chabahar for transhipment to Afghanistan and Central Asia while reserving the port of Bandar Abbas as a major hub mainly for trade with Russia and Europe.
India, Iran and Afghanistan have signed an agreement to give Indian goods, heading for Central Asia and Afghanistan, preferential treatment and tariff reductions at Chabahar.
Work on the Chabahar-Melak-Zaranj-Dilaram route from Iran to Afghanistan is in progress. Iran is with Indian aid upgrading the Chabahar-Melak road and constructing a bridge on the route to Zaranj. India's BRO is laying the 213-kilometer Zaranj-Dilaram road. It is a part of its USD 750 million aid package to Afghanistan.
The advantages that Chabahar has compared to Gwadar are the greater political stability and security of the Iranian hinterland and the hositlity and mistrust that the Pakistani Baluchis hold against the Punjabi dominated Pakistani Federal government. The Baluchis consider Sino-Pak initiative at Gwadar as a strategy from Islamabad to deny the province its deserved share of development pie. They also look with suspicion on the settlement of more and more non-Baluchis in the port area.
The Chabahar port project is Iran's chance to end its US sponsored economic isolation and benefit form the resurgent Indian economy. Along with Bandar Abbas, Chabahar is the Iranian entrepot on the North - South corridor. A strategic partnership between India, Iran and Russia to establish a multi-modal transport link connecting Mumbai with St. Petersburg. Providing Europe and the former Soviet republics of Central Asia access to Asia and vice-versa.
NOTE: The resource taken from wikipedia.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Gwadar may lose business to Iranian port of Chabahar - Part 1
The Gwadar Port that was envisioned to become a trans-shipment port and shipping hub for the landlocked Central Asian States (CAS), Afghanistan and Western China may lose this opportunity to the fast developing Iranian port of Chabahar, a Gwadar Port official said.
The Gwadar Port is yet to become fully operational. The running of the port affairs was given to Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), one of the biggest port operators, so that it will fetch considerable business for making Gwadar Port a success.
The PSA has not fulfilled its business plan of making the port fully operational by 2008. The PSA says the government has failed to provide basic infrastructure including road and rail links that are the main impediments in Gwadar Port development.
To ensure that the port stays a viable destination the Gwadar Port official suggested resuming container business immediately even if in small amount through PSA or if they fail through own resources.The government should bear the cost of road transportation to resume export activity from Gwadar Port, he said.The official suggested restricting PSA to the present terminal and the areas adjacent to the terminal handed over to them may be retrieved and handed over to Gwadar Port Authority.
The official further said that master plan of Gwadar Port need to be approved, presently it is approved in principle but nothing so far has been done. Master Plan will protect the entire east bay and coastline east of Surbandar. By securing Master Plan, the basic theme of converting Gwadar Port into a hub port will be secured.
In order to attract sustainable business like Afghan Transit Trade or container cargo at Gwadar Port, one of the viable options is to complete road connectivity of the Port with Chaman and Afghanistan followed by shifting total or part of Afghan transit trade to Gwadar Port.
The land required for Free Zone has been dropped due to its high cost (Rs 6.7 billion). It is suggested that the concerned agency at the Federal Government level may be requested to remand the case to the District Government authorities for review and submission of a workable plan, the official said.
The construction of East Bay Expressway may be undertaken on a fast track as the present arrangement for passage of the cargo truck within town has lot of repercussions. The concerned agency may be directed to execute the development work on priority.
According to government official it is justified to extend Rs.585million subsidy to the Gwadar Port to make it viable. Government supported Port Qasim for ten years to make port fully functional, he reminded. Similarly this will help the Gwadar Port to operate and serve the basic purpose of the port and generate revenues and job opportunities for the people.
He further stated that Stevedoring/Clearing/Ship Agency License to be given to locals and training should be given to the locals in cargo handling to reduce their grievances.It is learnt that Port of Singapore Authority is trying to attract Afghan Transit Trade and get mining sector to export copper and chrome from Gwadar Port. In this regard PSA is briefing the government of Balochistan to work on connectivity.
It is also said that PSA is pursuing the government to add Gwadar Port in Afghan Trade Notification so that some trade should be started from Gwadar as well.However ports and shipping industry shows reservation on PSA’s role and said that PSA submitted plan for 40 years specifying business in Gwadar.
According to the PSA business plan the port was to be operational by 50 percent in 2007 and 100 percent in 2008 and had indicated business comprising of coal and container cargo.The plan also indicated approximate revenue generation for Gwadar Port Authority during the period 2007 and 2008. But PSA, so far relied totally on TCP to have business and lucrative subsidies. It has totally failed in bringing in business to Gwadar Port specially containers.
However PSA says that ports are not run in isolation, port are catalyst for trade and in the absence of basic infrastructures, free zone industrial areas and most importantly the connectivity links to the ports which are major hurdles in running the ports. PSA has fulfilled all agreed requirement but government so far has failed to fulfil the agreed requirements of the ports.
NOTE: The resource taken from thenews.
The Gwadar Port is yet to become fully operational. The running of the port affairs was given to Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), one of the biggest port operators, so that it will fetch considerable business for making Gwadar Port a success.
The PSA has not fulfilled its business plan of making the port fully operational by 2008. The PSA says the government has failed to provide basic infrastructure including road and rail links that are the main impediments in Gwadar Port development.
To ensure that the port stays a viable destination the Gwadar Port official suggested resuming container business immediately even if in small amount through PSA or if they fail through own resources.The government should bear the cost of road transportation to resume export activity from Gwadar Port, he said.The official suggested restricting PSA to the present terminal and the areas adjacent to the terminal handed over to them may be retrieved and handed over to Gwadar Port Authority.
The official further said that master plan of Gwadar Port need to be approved, presently it is approved in principle but nothing so far has been done. Master Plan will protect the entire east bay and coastline east of Surbandar. By securing Master Plan, the basic theme of converting Gwadar Port into a hub port will be secured.
In order to attract sustainable business like Afghan Transit Trade or container cargo at Gwadar Port, one of the viable options is to complete road connectivity of the Port with Chaman and Afghanistan followed by shifting total or part of Afghan transit trade to Gwadar Port.
The land required for Free Zone has been dropped due to its high cost (Rs 6.7 billion). It is suggested that the concerned agency at the Federal Government level may be requested to remand the case to the District Government authorities for review and submission of a workable plan, the official said.
The construction of East Bay Expressway may be undertaken on a fast track as the present arrangement for passage of the cargo truck within town has lot of repercussions. The concerned agency may be directed to execute the development work on priority.
According to government official it is justified to extend Rs.585million subsidy to the Gwadar Port to make it viable. Government supported Port Qasim for ten years to make port fully functional, he reminded. Similarly this will help the Gwadar Port to operate and serve the basic purpose of the port and generate revenues and job opportunities for the people.
He further stated that Stevedoring/Clearing/Ship Agency License to be given to locals and training should be given to the locals in cargo handling to reduce their grievances.It is learnt that Port of Singapore Authority is trying to attract Afghan Transit Trade and get mining sector to export copper and chrome from Gwadar Port. In this regard PSA is briefing the government of Balochistan to work on connectivity.
It is also said that PSA is pursuing the government to add Gwadar Port in Afghan Trade Notification so that some trade should be started from Gwadar as well.However ports and shipping industry shows reservation on PSA’s role and said that PSA submitted plan for 40 years specifying business in Gwadar.
According to the PSA business plan the port was to be operational by 50 percent in 2007 and 100 percent in 2008 and had indicated business comprising of coal and container cargo.The plan also indicated approximate revenue generation for Gwadar Port Authority during the period 2007 and 2008. But PSA, so far relied totally on TCP to have business and lucrative subsidies. It has totally failed in bringing in business to Gwadar Port specially containers.
However PSA says that ports are not run in isolation, port are catalyst for trade and in the absence of basic infrastructures, free zone industrial areas and most importantly the connectivity links to the ports which are major hurdles in running the ports. PSA has fulfilled all agreed requirement but government so far has failed to fulfil the agreed requirements of the ports.
NOTE: The resource taken from thenews.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Afghani Food...
After over 7 years I believe, entered in a Afghani restaurent though there was nothing purely afghani as such except they were playing afghani songs and waiters were afghani too... Last time I went to "Kabul Restuarent" in F-7 and turn out to be worst experience of all, maybe it was the food we ordered or maybe because I was paying :)
We started off with normal order but end up ordering on each serving of "Kabli Palow", and one each serving of Afghani tikkah and Afghani kabab. This was maybe 3rd time, I was eating kabli palow, if you like sugar in rice then must try this. They have carrots cooked with raisens, which leaves a sweet taste in thin cutted carrots slices. Then kuftay is offered which can be mixed with these rice to reduce the sweetness of rice, if you mix rich with it, you might like it for sometime.
I wasn't sure it either Afghani tikkah or Afghani kabab but one of them was very tasty, so if you're there next time the hint to order right tikkah or kabab is to just ask this to customer... bhai sb, wo kon say kabab ya tikkah hain jis ke sekh per tamator bhi lagay hotay hain :D .. hain agar wo iss baat ko sunay kay baad aap ko aik ghoore maray tu mai kuch nahe kah sakta ;)
First time in restaurent they were playing music in right volume for sometime.. Its a nice spot to visit if you want personal attendence as we were the only visitors there at that time ;). The food turn out be not as bad as I first thought...
And for the first time, took kawa after food in Afghani or I should say Iranian style - white gole (sugar) under my tongue and drinking tea. Do try this if you're in some Afghani or Iranian restaurent, surely it would be good experience.
NOTE: Another blog on food.... Please stop it man!
We started off with normal order but end up ordering on each serving of "Kabli Palow", and one each serving of Afghani tikkah and Afghani kabab. This was maybe 3rd time, I was eating kabli palow, if you like sugar in rice then must try this. They have carrots cooked with raisens, which leaves a sweet taste in thin cutted carrots slices. Then kuftay is offered which can be mixed with these rice to reduce the sweetness of rice, if you mix rich with it, you might like it for sometime.
I wasn't sure it either Afghani tikkah or Afghani kabab but one of them was very tasty, so if you're there next time the hint to order right tikkah or kabab is to just ask this to customer... bhai sb, wo kon say kabab ya tikkah hain jis ke sekh per tamator bhi lagay hotay hain :D .. hain agar wo iss baat ko sunay kay baad aap ko aik ghoore maray tu mai kuch nahe kah sakta ;)
First time in restaurent they were playing music in right volume for sometime.. Its a nice spot to visit if you want personal attendence as we were the only visitors there at that time ;). The food turn out be not as bad as I first thought...
And for the first time, took kawa after food in Afghani or I should say Iranian style - white gole (sugar) under my tongue and drinking tea. Do try this if you're in some Afghani or Iranian restaurent, surely it would be good experience.
NOTE: Another blog on food.... Please stop it man!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Steaks inside CAVE...
Let me start this blog by saying; there are couple of good steak houses in Islamabad and let's say CAVE is one of them. Maybe not only because of food taste but the arrangements they put in for nice, cozzy cave-like environment. Though the music they were playing was good but the volume again was too high. The table attendent was very helpful in selecting the food of your choice, though it is bit tricky process to order one unlike other Pakistani restaurents.
Now to order steak, you start first selecting from their 3 classic cuts:
a. House Sirloin
b. Club Steak
c. Tenderlion Stea
Then you move on to pick any two of fresh made sides from:
a. garlic mashed potato
b. baked potato
c. creamed spinach
d. sessional vegetables
e. cruncy or cruncy onions rings
f. french fries ...
Then you've to decide, how you want your steak to be cooked as medium rare, medium, medium well done, or well done. Though I tried two different steaks (not that I eat both of them, actually just took the bite from other), and there was no difference of cooking at least. I ordered well done (rather very well done) and other ordered medium - I didn't see any major difference, so it turn out to be more like menu part rather a practical one :).
Now comes the steak which I choose, I went for "Cave's Royal Steak", flame grilled topped with spicy sauce (it was flamed and definitely spicy... mera tu nahe pata per Khan sb. was burning like hell :) and Asif was just looking at steak, I think planning whether to take the risk of taking bite or not...) But one thing is certain, the taste was good and I liked every bite of it with french fries) I, this time took beef after a long time not chicken :D .
If you like spicy then try ordering Cave Sizzler and Twin Steak which comes as grilled cut in two, one topped with mushroom and other with creamy black peppercorn sauce (the spicy sauce).
In short, nice spot to be with anyone.. Just don't forget to select the right table to avoid loud music. :)
Now to order steak, you start first selecting from their 3 classic cuts:
a. House Sirloin
b. Club Steak
c. Tenderlion Stea
Then you move on to pick any two of fresh made sides from:
a. garlic mashed potato
b. baked potato
c. creamed spinach
d. sessional vegetables
e. cruncy or cruncy onions rings
f. french fries ...
Then you've to decide, how you want your steak to be cooked as medium rare, medium, medium well done, or well done. Though I tried two different steaks (not that I eat both of them, actually just took the bite from other), and there was no difference of cooking at least. I ordered well done (rather very well done) and other ordered medium - I didn't see any major difference, so it turn out to be more like menu part rather a practical one :).
Now comes the steak which I choose, I went for "Cave's Royal Steak", flame grilled topped with spicy sauce (it was flamed and definitely spicy... mera tu nahe pata per Khan sb. was burning like hell :) and Asif was just looking at steak, I think planning whether to take the risk of taking bite or not...) But one thing is certain, the taste was good and I liked every bite of it with french fries) I, this time took beef after a long time not chicken :D .
If you like spicy then try ordering Cave Sizzler and Twin Steak which comes as grilled cut in two, one topped with mushroom and other with creamy black peppercorn sauce (the spicy sauce).
In short, nice spot to be with anyone.. Just don't forget to select the right table to avoid loud music. :)
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