Engineering Post Report
Great game changer China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) figured quite significantly when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid two days official visit to time-tested and all weather strategic friend China in the first week of November 2022 and held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang among other matters bilateral, regional and international of interest and concern .
During these meetings, Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to high quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and also highlighted salience of the CPE as a flagship project under BRI to its economic and social development.
These meetings took place 11th CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee on October 27, 2022 held through video conference during which progress of ongoing projects was reviewed and it was decided to continue the momentum of CPEC’s high-quality development.
Up gradation and rehabilitation of Main Line (ML-1) from Peshawar to Karachi was duly recognized as a project of key significance under the CPEC framework and of importance to Pakistan’s socio-economic development, it was agreed to advance the process of its early implementation through consensus at the highest level of the leadership of the two countries. China is mainly finance the mega project through concessional financing loan which is being negotiated by the two sides at the appropriate level and likely to be signed soon. Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) is also to be actively advanced which was an urgent requirement for Pakistan’s biggest city and commercial hub.
During the deliberations of the top leaders of the two countries which took place in Beijing, satisfaction was expressed on the completion of key projects of the Gwadar Port which was the leading CPEC project and an important mode in cross regional connectivity. It was decided to speed up progress on other related projects of the Gwadar Port and Free Zone.
The two countries decided to accelerate cooperation in the areas of agriculture, mining, Information Technology (IT) , socio-economic development under CPEC
and to further build on the industry, digital and green corridors , health launched earlier this year carrying onward relevant cooperation.
China appreciated Pakistan government efforts to vigorously develop renewable energy projects including solar projects which aligned with the green, low carbon and environmental development of the energy sector. It was also decided that the Chinese companies will be encouraged to participate in this endeavor of Pakistan.
The two countries have also agreed to actively promote the implementation of Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation in order to support industrial development of Pakistan.
China and Pakistan during their top leaders deliberations also expressed their strong determination to counter all threats and designs against CPEC and China-Pakistan friendship.. Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and security of all Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in the country.
During this visit, the two countries have also signed and concluded a number of agreements/ MoUs covering bilateral cooperation in areas of e-commerce, digital economy , export of agricultural product, financial cooperation, protection of cultural property, infrastructure, flood relief, post disaster reconstruction , Global Development Initiative (GDI), animal disease control, livelihood, cultural cooperation, space, geoscience as well as law enforcement and security.
