ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday said the ongoing developmentprojects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should becompleted on fast-track basis and directed to give a final shape to theconsultation process of the future projects on priority.
Lauding the time-tested friendship with China, he said China had alwayssupported Pakistan during the difficult times and CPEC was a manifestationof the multi-dimensional partnership between the two countries.
He also observed that Chinese experiences in the social sector, especiallyfor the eradication of poverty and promotion of agriculture, must be fullyexplored, Prime Minister Office Media Wing in a press release said.
The prime minister was chairing a high level review meeting to ascertainprogress on different CPEC projects. Minister for Economic Affairs MuhammadHammad Azhar, Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Advisor Dr Abdul HafeezShaikh, Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, CPEC AuthorityChairman Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa, Naya Pakistan Housing ProgrammeChairman Lt Gen (retd) Anwar Ali Haider and other senior officials attendedthe meeting.
The prime minister directed the CPEC Authority to accelerate implementationpace on the different projects under the second phase on priority.
Giving direction for early finalization and completion of the projects, heasked the relevant ministries to set completion period and emphasized uponmaking the inter-ministerial coordination more effective to achieve desiredresults within appointed time frame.
The prime minister also directed to brief him in the upcoming reviewmeeting on the projects falling under the CPEC second phase, includingtheir completion period, implementation, removal of hurdles and the futuremechanism.
The prime minister was briefed in detail over the progress on the short,medium and long terms CPEC projects.
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The meeting was apprised about the first phase of CPEC projects in energy,road and rail networks, and the Gwadar Port, and the second phase projects,including industrialization cooperation, promotion of agriculture, socialand economic progress, tourism and others.
It was informed that majority of the projects in the energy and roadnetworks had been completed whereas work on the Gwadar Port and airport wasunder progress phase-wise.
The Orange Line project was completed while consultation process overfeasibility of Quetta railway was underway.
The prime minister had already laid the foundation stone of the AllamaIqbal Special Economic Zone while Rashakai’s was expected in the next month.
The bidding process for Dhabeji Economic Zone would be completed soon, itwas further informed.
The meeting also took stock of different proposals regarding proposedprojects under CPEC phase two, in the education and health sectors, housingscheme for the low income groups, poverty reduction, Ehsaas povertyprogramme and eradication of malnutrition and stunting issues.
