ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal Monday said completion of first phase of Gwadar Free Zone was a major milestone towards achieving inclusive and sustainable development in Balochistan in line with Pakistan Vision 2025.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Gwadar Expo-2018 and first phase of Gwadar Free Zone, the minister said Gwadar port and the free zone projects were demonstration of the time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China, a statement received here said.

He said first ever Gwadar expo-2018 is a breakthrough for not only Gwadar city but for the whole country because it would help boost CPEC and making Gwadar a state-of-the-art international port city.