Chinese officials effectually scrapped discords between the federal and provincial governments by approving inclusion of 30 mega-projects in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) during sixth Pakistan-China Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting that was held in Beijing on Thursday.
The Pakistani delegation was led by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, while the Chinese delegation was led by Vice Chairman Mr Wang Xiaotao.
Pak-China Joint Cooperation Committee approved rail-based mass transit projects for four provinces. These projects include Greater Peshawar Mass Transit, Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), Quetta Mass Transit and Lahore Orange Line Train Project.
KCR would greatly help to reduce traffic miseries of Karachiites.
“The population of the city will touch 34.3m by 2030. Therefore, there are ample returns on investment if made in the city”, quoted Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
Federal minister appreciated the Chinese commitment to help and start the mass transit railway project in the provincial headquarters which will provide great facility to millions of people in Pakistan.
While talking to media after attend meeting of two-day Pak-China Joint Cooperation Committee of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in Beijing, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal said under CPEC eight industrial zones will be set up with one zone in each province and special areas of Federally Administered Areas, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Gwadar.
Sindh Minister for Industries Manzoor Wassan urged the JCC to include the Khairpur Special Economic Zone but it was decided that only one zone would go to Sindh.
JCC asked Sindh government to work out a detailed plan and feasibility of the project to formally approve it.
Chinese authorities consented to establish steel mill in Chiniot where Punjab Government in February had announced discovery of huge reserves of iron.
Ahsan Iqbal told that power projects with estimated capacity of 800MW have been initiated under CPEC and 10000MW of electricity will be added in nation grid by 2018.
He said project under CPEC was approved to lay transmission line from south to north at earliest. This transmission line will add electricity produced in country’s south to national grid.
While addressing the 6th JCC meeting, Federal Minister pleaded case for Gwadar and said that master city plan and the related projects are likely to bring socio-economic stability in the Gwadar.
He added that agreement on 300 MW power project has been signed and the project will be started soon. He also highlighted Gwader water supply project, hospital and technical institute projects and stressed upon the timely completion of these projects to bring positive message of hope and support to local people in Gwader.
Pakistan is united to make CPEC a success, quoted Ahsan Iqbal.
