ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to set up China-Pakistan EconomicCorridor Authority to upgrade the existing structure for speedy and focusedexecution of the projects.
This was announced by Minister for Planning and Development Khusro Bakhtiarwhile addressing joint news conference along with Special Assistant onInformation Firdous Ashiq Awan in Islamabad this afternoon.
He said a bill to this effect will soon be introduced in parliament.
The Minister said the authority will work under Ministry of Planning andDevelopment, and specialists in various sectors will work with a focusedand scientific approach.
He said the two countries have also decided to establish Pakistan-ChinaBusiness Council with a view to include people from the private sector toimplement industrial and agricultural development projects under the secondphase of CPEC. He said Pakistan has shared names of leading industrialistswith the Chinese side for the purpose.
Khusro Bakhtiar said 8.5 billion dollars ML-1 railway track project hasbeen divided into three phases, and the preliminary design of the projectwas signed during the last visit of the prime minister to China. He saidthe project will contribute to materializing the dream of regionalconnectivity through Pakistan.
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The Minister said Gwadar Master Plan is being finalized, under which Gwadarwill emerge as an attractive smart port of the world. He said variousprojects are being executed in Gwadar under CPEC.
He said the Chairman of National Development Reform Commission of Chinawill visit Pakistan in October this year.
The Planning Minister said the government is committed to all the projectsand agreements under CPEC. He said the PTI government has signed agreementswith China in agriculture, industrial and socio-economic developmentsectors under the second phase of CPEC. In the first phase, he said, energyand infrastructure projects were focused. He said the ongoing projects,including the roads of the western and eastern routes of CPEC, will becompleted.
The Minister said China has made commitment of one billion dollars forsocio-economic development in the country.
