ISLAMABAD: Amid slow progress on projects related to the China–PakistanEconomic Corridor (CPEC), all concerned ministries/divisions have beendirected to immediately submit before the Cabinet Committee on CPECproposals regarding resolution of problems confronted in their respectiveprojects.
According to sources, around 17 different CPEC projects (worth $13 billion)related to infrastructure, energy and socio-economic development of Gwadarhad been completed so far; work on 21 projects (worth $12 billion) wasunder process; while 26 projects (worth $28 billion) were in the pipeline.
Although preparations to start 26 new projects were in final stages, someimportant projects, including the Gwadar Free Zone, continue to faceunnecessary delays, sources claimed.
Sharing the status of CPEC projects, sources said that projects that werein pipelines included Karachi-Peshawar Main Line-I (1,733km), 1,124MWKohala Hydropower plant, 1,320MW Thar (Oracle) Coal Plant, 700.7MW AzadPattan HPP, Sukkur-Hyderabad M-6 (306km), DI Khan-Zhob (4-lane highway,210km), Zhob-Quetta Road (331km), Optical Fiber Cable Phase-II(Rawalpindi-Karachi & Gwadar), Karachi Circular Railway (43km),Mirpur-Mangla-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra Road (200km), Nokundi-Mashkhel-PanjgurRoad (290lm), KKH Phase-I (Thakot-Raikot Section), Greater Peshawar RegionMass Transit, Quetta Mass Transit, KKH Alternative Route(Gilgat-Shandor-Chitral, 349km), ICT Model Industrial Zone, Industrial ParkPakistan Steel Mills Port Qasim, Mirpur Industrial Zone, Mohmand MarbleCity and Moqpandass Special Economic Zone.Article continues after this advertisement
Similarly, ongoing CPEC projects included 720MW Karot HPP, HVDC 660kVMatiari-Lahore Transmission Line, Hoshab-Awaran M-8 (146km), Khuzdar-BasimaRoad (110km), 870MW Suki Kinari HPP, 1,320ME Shanghai Electric (TCB-I),Hakla-DI Khan Motorway, Rashakai Special Economic Zone, New GwadarInternational Airport (NGIA), 300MW Gwadar Coal Project, 330MW HUBCO TharPower, 330MW ThalNova Thar Power, Eastbay Expressway, Pak-China FriendshipHospital in Gwadar, Dhabeji Special Economic Zone, 600MW Quaid-e-Azam SolarPark, Allama Iqbal Industrial City Special Economic City, and BostanSpecial Economic Zone.
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Meanwhile, projects that have been completed included Multan-SukkurMotorway M-5 (392km), 1,320MW Sahiwal Coal Power, 1,320MW Port Qasim PowerPlant, 1,320MW China-Hub Coal Power, Orange Line Metro Train project(27km), KKH Phase-II Havelian-Thakot Section (120km), 660MW Engro TharPower & Mine, 400MW Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Gwadar Port & Free Zone, 50MWSachal Wind Farm, 50MW Hydro China Dawood Wind, cross border optical fibercable (820km) and Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan.
As per the sources, the government has so far issued approximately 42licences to various investors for starting business activities in GwadarPort Free Zone. However, same could not happen due to various reasons,including non-availability of power, evacuation of land for Free ZonePhase-II from Pakistan Coastal Guards & Pakistan Navy, exemption of Gwadarport from provincial taxes as per concession agreement, delay inconstruction of breakwater & capital dredging of berthing area, diversionof Afghanistan transit trade, import of LNG and other commodities throughwarehousing/commercialization in free zone etc., and non issuance ofdifferent NOCs from GDA/environmental protection agency.
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