China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) | Updates & Discussions

[POPEYE-Sailor]

check ur knowledge regarding CPEC

https://www.geo.tv/latest/171353-qu...ow-about-the-china-pakistan-economic-corridor

 

[ghazi52]

 

[Clutch]

 

[Clutch]

Gwadar Port to become formally operational next month: Hasil Bizenjo

APP

KARACHI: Gwadar Port will be formally operational and open to the world by end of next month and there will be first international expo at Gwadar on January 29-30 to project the potential of Gwadar, mainly of Special Economic Zone.

Gwadar Port is a deep-sea international port with draught of more than 18 meters.

Mother ships can easily anchor at the port.

Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo also revealed that his ministry in next couple of weeks would float tender for the construction of much talked about and long-awaited mega project of Elevated Expressway -- linking Keamari, West and East Wharf to Northern Bypass. This would be operative in next two years.

He was speaking at a meeting of FPCCI Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping, here on Monday, which was attended by number of senior businessmen and officials of Ministry of Ports and Shipping, and of Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Gwadar Port and Gwadar Development Authority.

Chairman Chinese Overseas Ports Holding Company was prominent at this event, organized by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Ports and Shipping minister invited private sector of the country to come ahead and operate ferry services within or outside the country including Chabahar Port, Dubai or Qatar.

The government would never operate any ferry service. It was the job for local private sector. The government would only support and facilitate the businessmen, he said.

He stressed the local investors to lead in development of associated facilities to Gwadar Port, Gwadar City and Special Economic Zone there, and other CPEC linked mega projects in Balochistan. Also, the local businessmen could set up resorts and entertainment facilities along coastal highway, at Ormara and Gwadar.

The Chairman, Chinese Overseas Ports Holding Company, appreciated the support and cooperation from Pakistan government and Balochistan government, Pakistan Army and the civilian population in successfully carrying forward/executing the Gwadar Port and associated facilities.

 

[jupiter2007]

Hope for the best but Gwadar progress is quit slow.

We need to invite more countries to invest in CPEC. Joint venture in ever field possible, housing, Education, vocational training, hotel, motel, Resturant's, entertainment (Cinema), theme park, malls, Transportation (bus system, monorail, train, and bullettrain), automobile/parts manufacturing, Hospital, clinics, IT, Science & technology, power plant, renewable energy (solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, geothermal energy, Bilal fuel,tidal power), Trash/garbage processing plant, desalination plant, artificial lakes, water reservoirs, black water treatment plant, seafood farming & export, meat slaughtering plant & export, etc.

Supreme Court should also investigate about Gwadar and surrounding area land sold for pennies to army and ex-army personals during Musharraf era.

 

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

• e-paperWED DECEMBER 27, 2017
• Writer's ArchiveVIEW ALL WRITERS
• 
  • CN.
  search
  
  
  • Home
    
  • Latest
    
  • National
    
  • Today's Paper
    
  
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

CPEC: the long-term plan

Listen

Despite political events in the country created by some narrow vested interests, the 7th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting on CPEC was successfully held on November 21, 2017 in Islamabad.

Our Chinese counterparts showed complete resolve and commitment to successfully complete all CPEC projects in a timely manner. The 7th JCC also officially approved the Long Term Plan (LTP) of CPEC. It is a standard practice around the world that a bilateral agreement cannot be made public unless it is approved by both parties. But unfortunately some cynics in the media tried to generate unnecessary controversy by publishing an incorrect version of LTP. As we promised, we have released the LTP for the public and the media.

The development of any country is based on its industrialisation process. The qualitative difference between the developed and the developing countries is the difference in their degree of industrialisation. Where developed countries have now entered a post-industrial age, developing countries are still struggling to complete their industrialisation process and modernise their economy. The PML-N has believed in and consistently strived for industrialisation of Pakistan. In light of this vision, the PML-N government initiated work on CPEC immediately after coming into power. CPEC has assumed worldwide attention due to its significant contribution towards removing energy and infrastructure growth bottlenecks from Pakistan’s economy. It provides Pakistan a great opportunity to leapfrog to expedite the processes of industrialisation.

The LTP provides a conceptual framework for CPEC up to 2030; it also gives a framework for the industrialisation of Pakistan. To finalise the LTP, the government of Pakistan consulted provinces, federal ministries and their respective technical groups. The plan is completely in line with the seven pillars of ‘Pakistan Vision 2025’; these pillars are founded on the economic principles of inclusive and sustainable development. The seven salient feature of the LTP are connectivity, energy, trade and industrial parks, agricultural development and poverty alleviation, tourism, cooperation in areas concerning people’s livelihood and non-governmental exchanges and financial cooperation. The spirit of the LTP is best captured in the following statement, “...CPEC will greatly speed up the industrialisation and urbanisation process in Pakistan and help it grow into a highly inclusive, globally competitive and prosperous country capable of providing high-quality life to its citizens.”

I will briefly discuss some of the salient features of CPEC’s long-term plan to illustrate its central role in the industrialisation of Pakistan.

Connectivity is the cornerstone of development. It increases the flow of goods, information and people across regions. That is why an integrated transport system is central to the LTP. It includes the construction and development of Kashgar-Islamabad, Peshawar-Islamabad-Karachi, D I Khan-Hakla, Sukkur-Gwadar Port and Dera Ismail Khan-Quetta-Sohrab-Gwadar road infrastructure to improve inter/intra-connectivity in Pakistan and China. The development of Gwadar Port city, Gwadar airport and Easy Bay expressway are going to transform the city of Gwadar into a maritime trade hub and a new smart port city of the region. It will also lead to the industrialisation of Balochistan.

Information technology is critical for development. In this regard, we have laid a cross-border optical fibre cable between Pakistan and China, and agreed to cooperate in promoting technologies of the fourth industrial revolution in Pakistan.

In the energy sector, both countries will enhance cooperation in the fields of oil and gas, electricity and power grids. The focus is on thermal power, hydropower, coal gasification and renewable power generation and modernising power transmission networks. CPEC has already addressed the major energy bottleneck in Pakistan. Almost over half of the 10,000 MW energy added recently to the national grid comes from CPEC.

To build the industrial base of the country, new industrial parks/ special economic zones (SEZs) will be built all over the country. Both countries will cooperate to improve efficiency in the textile and garment industries, both of which are the backbone of Pakistan’s export sector. Engineering-based industries will also be developed in Pakistan.

No country has successfully industrialised without modernising its agricultural sector. CPEC will allow us to modernise agriculture through the introduction of new technologies such as biological breeding, drip irrigation etc. The emphasis is to improve incomes of small farmers by increasing their productivity and efficiency.

Coastal tourism can be a new niche for Pakistan. CPEC will allow us to build coastal leisure and vacationing centres across the Keti-Bander-Karachi, Sonmiani-Ormara, Jhal Jhao, Gwadar and Jiwani routes. CPEC is about cooperation at all levels between both countries, including non-government organisations and people-to-people interactions. For cross-fertilisation of ideas and cultures, exchange of students, tourists and academics will be an integral component of the corridor.

Pakistan and China will be enhancing monetary cooperation between their central banks. Both countries agree on bilateral currency swap arrangements and would prefer making payments in RMB and rupees regarding CPEC projects rather than any third-party currency.

According to the LTP, the implementation of CPEC will take place in three phases, with clear goals. In the first phase, that is – by 2020 – the major bottlenecks in Pakistan’s socio-economic development will be completely addressed and “CPEC shall start to boost the economic growth along it for both countries” (LTP document, p 10).

The second phase will be done by 2025, all the infrastructure of CPEC will be ready and all industrial projects will have been completed. As a result, CPEC will have a major impact on the livelihoods of people living along the corridor. The goals of Vision 2025 will be achieved and there will be more balanced regional economic development.

The third phase of the LTP will mature by 2030. The endogenous mechanisms for indigenous inclusive and sustainable economic growth will be in place in Pakistan. As per the LTP: “CPEC’s role in stimulating economic growth in Central Asia and South Asia [will be] brought into holistic play, and South Asia shall grow into an international economic zone with global influence”.

Pakistan is a democratic country where provincial governments are not just autonomous, but are also led by different political parties which are staunch opponents of each other. The federal government and all provincial governments are united in making the LTP and CPEC a game-changer for Pakistan.

Pakistan is a country full of promise and potential but due to strategic mistakes in the past we haven’t realised our true development potential. The PML-N government is committed to prioritising the economic interests of the country by engaging in the geo-economics – instead of geo politics – of the region through CPEC.

CPEC is a major step taken by Pakistan to transform itself as an economic nation and become hub of trade, commerce and manufacturing in the region. Without industrialisation we cannot resolve many of our socio-economic problems and CPEC is our opportunity to become an industrialised country. The sustainability of this qualitative shift mandates the collective support of all national stakeholders, including the media, to turn this dream project of Pak-China friendship into an everlasting joint enterprise for shared destiny and prosperity.



The writer is the federal minister for planning, development and reform, and interior.

Twitter: @BetterPakistan





advertisement


Comments
advertisement


PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT US | BACK ISSUES
© 2017 THE NEWS INTERNATIONALBack To Top

 

[JSCh]

Highway in northern Pakistan partly open to traffic
CGTN
Published on Dec 26, 2017

Sections of a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) highway have been partly opened to traffic. The two parts of the six-lane highway, measuring 40 kilometers, are in northern Pakistan and will stretch further north to connect with the Kara-ko-rum highway, a key artery of the CPEC for northern Pakistan. It is expected to improve transportation and help boost the local economy and people's livelihoods.

 

[Maxpane]

wow . due to cpec we overcome electricity shortage

 

[Clutch]

CPEC’s Centre of Excellence fails to fulfill core responsibility

Established at a cost of Rs1.2b, it has been unable to conduct studies or research helpful in policymaking
By SHAHBAZ RANA
Jan.03,2018
ISLAMABAD: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) policy think tank, set up at a cost of Rs1.2 billion to fill policy gaps, is struggling to perform its core tasks even two years after its establishment due to misplaced priorities of the government.

Due to absence of a home-grown policy, the $60 billion CPEC is guided by a voluminous study that was carried out by the China Development Bank which became the basis for the Long-term Plan 2017-2030. At the time of approving the Centre of Excellence project, there was hope that the country will soon have research-based studies in important areas of CPEC, according to government officials who were involved in setting up the centre.

CPEC could develop into Pakistan’s debt trap

About two years ago, the government had set up the Centre of Excellence of CPEC with the aim of providing “policy guidelines to the Ministry of Planning and Development and other relevant ministries” in integrating the economies of the two countries. Its other key goal was providing empirical policy guidelines for best use of the $60 billion corridor and other foreign direct investment that will flow in because of CPEC.

In early 2016, the five-year project plan for the Centre of Excellence was approved at a cost of Rs1.215 billion.

The project’s objective was to “provide policy-based research guidance to federal and provincial governments and implementers of CPEC projects to enable an efficient and coordinated implementation, ensuring maximum benefit to both economies and society at large”.

The Department was also supposed to offer Masters in Chinese Economy and Masters in Chinese Cultural Studies within one year.

Two years down the line, the centre’s work is limited to only holding roundtable conferences and publishing articles in the media to counter propaganda against CPEC. It has also moved away from the five thematic research areas, showed internal papers of the Centre of the Excellence.

Since its inception, the centre has not produced even a single research paper in thematic areas of job growth and human resource development, urban development in Pakistan, financing and financial sector Integration, regional connectivity, trade and industry cooperation and socio economic impacts of CPEC.

The centre took over one year to set up and was inaugurated only in March 2017, said Dr Saleem Janjua, the head of urban development unit of the centre. He said that the centre was not responsible for the delay, adding that it has started conducting roundtable conferences.

The key obstacles in achieving the objectives were using the Center of Excellence for image-building activities by the Planning Ministry and hiring people with an engineering background in key positions, according to officials working with the centre and in the Planning Ministry.

An executive director level officer heads the centre and, according to the PC-I of the project, they must have over 15 years senior management experience in government, development sector or in international organisations with an emphasis on socio-economic development strategies and regional integration.

The centre could also not meet most of the targets set out for the second quarter of 2017, despite having a consolidated work plan. But the plan was modified keeping in view the short-term pressing demands put forth by the Planning Ministry, according to officials.

Executive Director of the Centre Dr Shaid Rashid claimed that the centre has produced dozens of research papers that are also available on the website. But he could not cite the name of a single research paper.

The Centre of Excellence website carries three published reports, which are largely based on day-to-day issues. For instance, one report is based on outcomes of a roundtable conference on “CPEC-A Step towards Environmentally Sustainable Special Economic Zones”.

There was a realisation that the ministries and departments directly or indirectly linked with CPEC projects need policy support as most of the implementers do not have strong internal research and development facilities. The CPEC Centre of Excellence was meant to fill this gap.

CPEC projects enter second phase

However, instead of producing quality policy documents, the centre’s internal papers showed that work in most of the targeted areas remains behind schedule. For instance the work on proposed Priority Special Economic Zones under CPEC, Factor Endowments Opportunities and Prospects has not been completed yet.

Similarly, work on situational analysis of GSP, GSP+, EU, Pakistan and CPEC could not be completed. The CPEC value proposition for China, Afghanistan, Iran, EU, Sweden and Azerbaijan could not be completed either.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2018.


CPEC: how to manage our SEZs?

World is fraught with many failed examples with well-built yet unutilised infrastructure
By HASAAN KHAWAR
Jan.03,2018
Although the first modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was developed far back in 1959 in Ireland, it was the ‘Chinese miracle’ in Shenzhen that sold the concept to the world. Once a small fishing village, Shenzhen now is as populous as Lahore but with GDP as high as that of Pakistan, depicting remarkable productivity. Are we positioning our SEZs to become the next Shenzhen? In order to have that ambition, we have to get our approach right.

Within CPEC, we are planning to have nine SEZs to attract new investment. Pakistan has already undertaken feasibility studies for five and pre-feasibility for two sites. However, most of these studies focus only on infrastructure. In an earlier article, I highlighted that SEZs are not a sure route to success. The world is fraught with many failed examples with well-built yet unutilised infrastructure.

If that is the case, then are we doing it right in Pakistan? A few weeks ago, I was invited to speak at a conference on SEZs organised by the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Institute, where I tried to answer this question.

Within the universe of 5,000+ SEZs present in the world, there are many successful examples. A closer look at these examples reveals a few glaring gaps in our SEZ approach.

Firstly, SEZs offer an easy way to provide a micro investment climate within limited confines, promising to remove investment constraints that a country is otherwise facing. That is precisely the reason why SEZs are more suitable for developing countries with poor investment climates. This is also why countries should aim to remove their own specific challenges within such zones. Merely replicating incentives offered in China or elsewhere wouldn’t work in Pakistan, if these don’t relate to our own investment constraints.

Data from various sources indicate that major obstacles to investment in Pakistan include poor security, absence of reliable access to infrastructure and electricity, excessive compliance regimes, rent-seeking regulators, cumbersome tax administration, etc. This list in fact indicates precisely what our SEZs should offer.

While CPEC is going to address the infrastructure and connectivity part, the government will still need to focus on security of these zones. But that is the easier part. Simplification of compliance and tax regimes is the hard part and involvement of both the federal and provincial governments makes it even harder.

Other countries, however, have managed to work their way through this labyrinth. They have made laws to empower their zone authorities to issue approvals by themselves, without any back and forth communication with line ministries. The UAE has introduced pre-approvals in many zones and investors don’t have to put in a single penny until they get the approvals. Furthermore, many SEZs have introduced the concept of negative lists, which means that the government only notifies forbidden activities. All else have a presumptive approval.

More advanced economies have embraced the concept of charter cities — the next generation SEZs, empowering the local governments to set a broad range of independent economic policies. Hong Kong and San Jose (home to Silicon Valley) are prime examples but there are many others around the world. We, however, still believe in highly centralised approval structures.

Another gap in Pakistan’s SEZ regime pertains to investment incentives. Although the tax holiday is granted for limited time, most incentives are blanket and not linked with any performance targets such as investment mobilisation, employment generation or technology transfer. The Chinese, on the other hand, have used SEZs to promote advanced technology. For instance, Tianjin, a large industrial zone in China, explicitly bans the use of backward technology or outdated equipment and gives an outright priority to new industries and technologically advanced companies.

This is the right time to think through such issues and accordingly adopt an SEZ strategy to take full benefit of CPEC and other FDI opportunities.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2018.

 

[Clutch]

CPEC not a security project, says Ahsan

January 05, 2018

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal Thursday said that no one should consider the China Pakistan Economic Corridor as a security project as it is the project of peace and prosperity of the region.

A lobby is busy spreading disinformation and rumours among the masses against CPEC as they want to sabotage the project , Ahsan Iqbal said this while speaking at the launching ceremony of CPEC Quarterly Magazine and website of the CPEC Centre of Excellence here.

Trending: During meeting Indian envoy was threatening my mother, says Jadhav
He said no one should consider the Corridor as a security project . Any country can join the China Pakistan Economic Corridor to ensure peace and development in the region, he said. “Together we can bring change in the lives of people in this part of the world where there is still extreme poverty,” he added.

Ahsan Iqbal said the CPEC is a vision of achieving better quality of life to people of the region who have paid a heavy price of conflicts in the last several decades. He said these conflicts denied us opportunity to exploit full potential of the region.

Trending: Pakistan on special watchlist for severe violations of religious freedom: US
The minister said that the CPEC will have a great impact on socio-economic development of the country. He said energy and infrastructure investment is going to take place under the CPEC project . Ahsan Iqbal said that the government has funded Quetta-Gwadar road from its own resources, which has reduced the forty hours distance to eight hours.

He said that 80 per cent of the CPEC investment is in energy sector. The value of Thar coal is more than the value of Saudi and Iranian oil and so far investment of $5 billion has been finalised for the development of Thar coal, Ahsan claimed.

Trending: One Indian soldier killed, two injured in Working Boundary firing: ISPR
Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor is the project of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

He said that the CPEC is result of joint efforts of Pakistan and China to materialise the goal of sustainable development.

Trending: Indian diplomat yelled at my mother: Jadhav
The ambassador congratulated the CPECCentre of Excellence over launching of CPECQuarterly Magazine and website and termed it as a good step towards provision of awareness to the people about updates, opportunities and activities with regard to the CPEC project .

CHINA WELCOMES

CURRENCY SWAP AGREEMENT

INP adds: China has welcomed Pakistan’s move allowing the yuan to be used for imports, exports and financing transactions for bilateral trade and investment activities.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said in Beijing on Thursday that bilateral monetary cooperation has been deepening since China and Pakistan signed a bilateral currency swap agreement in 2011.

“At present, various forms of trade and investment cooperation between China and Pakistan have developed in depth,” he added.

Pakistan’s central bank had stated on Tuesday that public and private sector enterprises may use the yuan for bilateral trade and investment.

Answering a question Chinese spokesperson “We encourage market players in both countries to use domestic currency settlement in bilateral trade and investment and welcome Pakistan’s initiatives.”

China believes this will provide a good financial environment for bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he added.

 

[Clutch]

CPEC With Virtues Blessed Pakistan With Bountiful Harvest In 2017 [ANALYSIS]

Guest Post
7 hours ago


CPEC project is of great importance for both China and Pakistan. China’s government is striving to consume its supporting role to build an environment for the open economic system and logistic system under CPEC. It is considered as the corridor of peace, prosperity and development having potentials for a promising future of Pakistan. It has a transformational impact on Pakistan’s economic domain. This mega project is helping Pakistan in improving the infrastructure, energy requirements, workforce development and economic progress. Both China and Pakistan have set up the Joint Cooperation Committee to promote the construction of CPEC project (2013-2030). It needs the mutual efforts of governments, companies and all social sectors of China and Pakistan.




By Government of Pakistan [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Discussing the energy sector under CPEC, there were 16 projects prioritized with the total capacity of 10,400MW as well as 8 actively promoted projects. Year 2017 has witnessed the operationalization of 2x660MW Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power Plant, 50MW Dawood Wind Farm and 50MW Sachal Wind Farm. Near to completion are the 900MW Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in Bahawalpur (90% work has been done) and 100MW Jhimpir Wind Farm. 2x660MW Port Qasim Coal-fired Power Plant, 4x330MW Engro Thar Coal-fired Power Plant and Surfice Mine in Block II of Thar Coal Field, 720MW Karot Hydro-Power Project, and 873MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Project are under construction.


Year 2017 has witnessed the seventy percent completion of the two infrastructure projects; KKH PhaseII(Havelian- Thakot Section),120 km, Karachi-Lahore Motorway (Sukkur-Multan Section),392 km. Rest of the infrastructure projects are working on their pace while the spine of the CPEC Railway Line ML-1’s complete feasibility report has been compiled up for the further progress. An efficient and fast transportation network is vital importance for the economic development.

In the area of industrial cooperation under CPEC, there are six projects under construction and year 2018 will be witnessing their destiny. China has advantages in experience, technology, financing and industrial capacity, while Pakistan enjoys favorable conditions in resources, labor forces and market. By carrying out industrial cooperation, both sides will achieve mutual complementarity and win-win results.

Year 2017 marked a landmark achievement for Pakistan as Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that CPEC Long Term Plan would be public on 18th of December, 2017 which would further add the prospects for more inclusive research of this mega project. Simultaneously, there are bright prospects to jack up the developments in various sectors which include agriculture, information technology. This demonstrates the success of this meeting and the willingness of China to diversify its cooperation under the CPEC project. In this backdrop, the harmony between the provincial and federal governments is required and they should work enthusiastically for the inclusion of more projects under CPEC and to complete the ongoing projects. It can be hoped that the end result would be productive and the project will be able to proceed. The continuity of the meetings of Joint Cooperation Committee since 2013 to Nov 2017 shows the evaluation and progress of work on the ongoing projects under CPEC. 7th JCC has further deepened mutual cooperation between the two countries under the framework of CPEC and would pave a clear way for Pakistan to enter the phase of Industrial Cooperation.

Furthermore, CPEC is not limited to just a road, but it will connect with numbers of motorways and infrastructure projects included Gwadar Port, the second phase of the upgrading project of Karakoram highway, motorway project between Lahore and Karachi, Нakot- Havelian motorway, Gwadar port expressway, it will improve the situation of energy, finance, commerce, banking, industry, and education.

CPEC has helped Pakistan to mitigate the chronic energy crises which have negative impacts on the economic growth of Pakistan. This energy shortage has hampered the industrial production and the businesses were closed down because of the interrupted supply of energy. CPEC project has played a significant role in this regard whereas WAPDA and KESC failed to resolve this problem of energy shortage. CPEC energy projects based on the wind, solar, coal and hydro power would create the generation of 16,400 MW.

According to recent report of Centre for International Development at Harvard, the higher growth rates depends upon the gains in productive capabilities and Pakistan’s predicted annual growth rate for next ten years is 5.0 percent. Its immediate neighbors China and India will grow by 4.28 percent and 6.8 percent respectively. Pakistan’s economy would be revolutionized through infrastructure build-up by China’s huge assistance. China not only assists Pakistan at regional level but also at global forums. It has offered Pakistan to bear 80 percent financial cost of two Karachi nuclear power plants of 2100 megawatt, ready to sell 8 conventional submarines to Pakistan Navy and cooperated in the production of JF-17 Thunder. China’s assistance in uplifting of Pakistan’s economy would bring immense opportunities for Pakistanis. Additionally according to published World Economic Forum Report (WEFR), Pakistan has been placed/ranked 115thout of 137 countries in 2017 while it was 126th in 2016. .( CPEC lifts Pakistan up in the world competitiveness rankings by helping Pakistan’s economy.)

The multidimensional CPEC project is receiving the highest level of government interest in both countries. It is on the way in realizing the goal of bringing mutual prosperity to the two countries with the development of Gwadar Port, fibre optical links, establishment of new infrastructure and a host of energy-cooperation projects. Simultaneously, it is facing some challenges ahead. Pakistan’s economic development is its key principle through CPEC. Hence progress has been started on their joint initiatives to develop Gwadar Port as commercial and international port. It is first priority of Pakistan to safeguard its territorial integrity and national interest in every single project under CPEC.

Initially Leaked CPEC Long Term Plan (Dawn) was not talking about the agriculture. However, now, in this LTP report, the major portion has been earmarked for the agricultural field. Everything is connected with each other as the development in infrastructure brings revolution in the agricultural technology. Investment in the road infrastructure reduces the cost of transportation. The improvement in the quality of the roads leads to the increment of 20 or 35 percent in the purchasing power of the farmers according to the season. Likewise poor infrastructure has adverse impact on the export of agriculture output because farmers have usually low access to credit in almost all developing countries which could be a hurdle in purchasing the inputs used in farms. It is also observed that markets located at distance are the main hurdle to use fertilizers and to sell the agricultural products. Various types of infrastructure and agricultural output growth are directly proportional. If the irrigation infrastructure is developed, the revolutionary changes in agricultural output are inevitable by enhancing the land use intensity and provide incentives to farmers to use productivity increasing inputs. Rural electrification increases the irrigated area and also irrigation facilities. Resultantly the output of crops cultivated through underground irrigation system which is always higher than those under canal or tank irrigation. Hence, one could be optimistic about the CPEC project that the development of infrastructure brings revolution in agriculture technology all along the other sectors and this year has witnessed that the CPEC is getting mature with the passage of time by countering all the hurdles.

Author’s Biography

Asia Maqsood is an Independent Researcher. She has done M. Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad. Her Area of Research is China Pakistan Strategic Partnership and CPEC and South Asia’ Strategic Issues. she can be reached at asiamaqsood.09@gmail.com.

 

[Clutch]

Chinese diplomat visits Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry
A ReporterUpdated January 09, 2018
1
0
RAWALPINDI: China has invested heavily in the power and infrastructure sectors of Pakistan under CPEC and this has resulted in improved electricity and better road networks in the country, said Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission Zhao Lijian on Monday.

He was briefing the local business community on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). The Chinese official was accompanied by economic and trade counsellors Shen Zichang and Liu Shijie.

Addressing a large gathering of traders, Mr Lijian said that under CPEC, four key areas have been identified including the power sector, infrastructure, Gwadar Port and Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

“With heavy investments in power and infrastructure, within four years everyone in Pakistan can witness the progress made in these areas,” he said.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
“Now you have low loadshedding and better road networks and this will help the overall economy of Pakistan,” he said.

“The given progress is the answer to negative forces which are against CPEC. Now we are moving to the third and fourth phase of CPEC which includes the development of Gwadar Free Zone and SEZs.

“Industrialisation under CPEC will help Pakistan improve its GDP, poverty alleviation and unemployment. Both the Chinese and Pakistani governments are working hard to complete all projects under CPEC,” he stressed.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2018

 

[Introvert]

CPEC with Virtues Blessed Pakistan with Bountiful Harvest in 2017: An Analysis

CPEC project is of great importance for both China and Pakistan. China’s government is striving to consume its supporting role to build an environment for the open economic system and logistic system under CPEC. It is considered as the corridor of peace, prosperity and development having potential for a promising future of Pakistan. It has a transformational impact on Pakistan’s economic domain. This mega project is helping Pakistan in improving the infrastructure, energy requirements, workforce development and economic progress. Both China and Pakistan have set up the Joint Cooperation Committee to promote the construction of CPEC project (2013-2030). It needs the mutual efforts of governments, companies and all social sectors of China and Pakistan.

Discussing the energy sector under CPEC, there were 16 projects prioritized with the total capacity of 10,400MW as well as 8 actively promoted projects. Year 2017 has witnessed the operationalization of 2x660MW Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power Plant, 50MW Dawood Wind Farm and 50MW Sachal Wind Farm. Near to completion are the 900MW Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in Bahawalpur (90% work has been done) and 100MW Jhimpir Wind Farm. 2x660MW Port Qasim Coal-fired Power Plant, 4x330MW Engro Thar Coal-fired Power Plant and Surfice Mine in Block II of Thar Coal Field, 720MW Karot Hydro-Power Project, and 873MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Project are under construction.

Year 2017 has witnessed the seventy percent completion of the two infrastructure projects; KKH Phase-II(Havelian-Thakot Section),120 km, Karachi-Lahore Motorway (Sukkur-Multan Section),392 km. Rest of the infrastructure projects are working on their pace while the spine of the CPEC Railway Line ML-1’s complete feasibility report has been compiled up for the further progress. An efficient and fast transportation network is vital importance for the economic development.

In the area of industrial cooperation under CPEC, there are six projects under construction and year 2018 will be witnessing their destiny. China has advantages in experience, technology, financing and industrial capacity, while Pakistan enjoys favorable conditions in resources, labor force and market. By carrying out industrial cooperation, both sides will achieve win-win results.

{Year 2017 marked a landmark achievement for Pakistan as Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that CPEC Long Term Plan would be public on 18th of December, 2017 which would further add the prospects for more inclusive research of this mega project. Simultaneously, there are bright prospects to jack up the developments in various sectors which include agriculture, information technology. This demonstrates the success of this meeting and the willingness of China to diversify its cooperation under the CPEC project. In this backdrop, the harmony between the provincial and federal governments is required and they should work enthusiastically for the inclusion of more projects under CPEC and to complete the ongoing projects. It can be hoped that the end result would be productive and the project will be able to proceed. The continuity of the meetings of Joint Cooperation Committee since 2013 to Nov 2017 shows the evaluation and progress of work on the ongoing projects under CPEC. 7th JCC has further deepened mutual cooperation between the two countries under the framework of CPEC and would pave a clear way for Pakistan to enter the phase of Industrial Cooperation.}

Furthermore, CPEC is not limited to just a road, but it will connect with numbers of motorways and infrastructure projects included Gwadar Port, the second phase of the upgrading project of Karakoram highway, motorway project between Lahore and Karachi, Thakot-Havelian Motorway, Gwadar port expressway, it will improve the situation of energy, finance, commerce, banking, industry and education.

CPEC has helped Pakistan to mitigate the chronic energy crisis which has negative impact on the economic growth of Pakistan. This energy shortage has hampered the industrial production and the businesses were closed down because of the interrupted supply of energy. CPEC project has played a significant role in this regard.

Pakistan’s economy would be revolutionized through infrastructure build-up by China’s huge assistance. China not only assists Pakistan at regional level but also at global forums. It has offered Pakistan to bear 80 percent financial cost of two Karachi nuclear power plants of 2100 megawatt, ready to sell 8 conventional submarines to Pakistan Navy and cooperated in the production of JF-17 Thunder. China’s assistance in uplifting of Pakistan’s economy would bring immense opportunities for Pakistanis.

The multidimensional CPEC project is receiving the highest level of government interest in both countries. It is on the way in realizing the goal of bringing mutual prosperity to the two countries with the development of Gwadar Port, fibre optical links, establishment of new infrastructure and a host of energy-cooperation projects. Simultaneously, it is facing some challenges ahead. Pakistan’s economic development is its key principle through CPEC. Hence progress has been started on their joint initiatives to develop Gwadar Port as commercial and international port. It is first priority of Pakistan to safeguard its territorial integrity and national interest in every single project under CPEC.

Initially Leaked CPEC Long Term Plan (Dawn) was not talking about the agriculture. However, now, in this LTP report, the major portion has been earmarked for the agricultural field. Everything is connected with each other as the development in infrastructure brings revolution in the agricultural technology. Investment in the road infrastructure reduces the cost of transportation. The improvement in the quality of the roads leads to the increment of 20 or 35 percent in the purchasing power of the farmers according to the season. Likewise poor infrastructure has adverse impact on the export of agriculture output because farmers have usually low access to credit in almost all developing countries which could be a hurdle in purchasing the inputs used in farms. It is also observed that markets located at distance are the main hurdle to use fertilizers and to sell the agricultural products. Various types of infrastructure and agricultural output growth are directly proportional. If the irrigation infrastructure is developed, the revolutionary changes in agricultural output are inevitable by enhancing the land use intensity and provide incentives to farmers to use productivity increasing inputs. Rural electrification increases the irrigated area and also irrigation facilities. Resultantly the output of crops cultivated through underground irrigation system which is always higher than those under canal or tank irrigation. Hence, one could be optimistic about the CPEC project that the development of infrastructure brings revolution in agriculture technology all along the other sectors and this year has witnessed the CPEC getting mature by countering all the hurdles.

 

[Clutch]

CPEC’s Long-term Plan matches seven pillars of Vision 2025: Iqbal

Connectivity, energy, trade, poverty alleviation are among salient features
By APP
Jan.09,2018
BEIJING: Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who also holds the Planning, Development and Reform portfolio, has emphasised that the Long-term Plan of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is completely in line with the seven pillars of Vision 2025, which is based on economic principles of inclusive and sustainable development.

“CPEC will greatly speed up industrialisation and urbanisation in Pakistan and help it grow into a highly inclusive, globally competitive and prosperous country capable of providing high-quality life to its citizens,” Iqbal said in an interview published in Beijing Review on Tuesday.

The seven salient features of the Long-term Plan are connectivity, energy, trade and industrial parks, agricultural development and poverty alleviation, tourism, cooperation in areas concerning people’s livelihoods and non-governmental exchanges and financial cooperation.

Iqbal said the plan provided a conceptual framework for CPEC up to 2030 and also delivered a framework for industrialisation in the country. “To finalise the plan, the government consulted provinces, federal ministries and their respective technical groups,” he pointed out.

Terming it a route to success, the minister said connectivity was the cornerstone of development as it increased the flow of goods, information and people across regions.

Easing tension: Ahsan Iqbal will jet off to US this week

In this regard, an integrated transport system is central to the Long-term Plan which includes construction and development of road infrastructure from Kashgar-Islamabad, Peshawar-Islamabad-Karachi, Hakla-Dera Ismail Khan, Sukkur-Gwadar Port and Dera Ismail Khan-Quetta-Sohrab-Gwadar. This will improve connectivity within Pakistan and interconnectivity with China.

“The development of Gwadar Port City, Gwadar Airport and East Bay Expressway is going to transform the city of Gwadar into a maritime trade hub and a new smart port for the region. It will also lead to industrialisation in Balochistan,” Iqbal said.

Information technology is another crucial aspect for development. In that regard, he said, a fibre optic cable had been laid between Pakistan and China, which also agreed to cooperate in promoting technologies of the fourth industrial revolution.

The minister pointed out that in the energy sector, both countries would enhance cooperation in oil, gas and electricity production with focus on thermal power, hydroelectric power, coal gasification, renewable energy and modernising the transmission network.

He boasted that CPEC had already addressed major energy bottlenecks in Pakistan and over half of the 10,000-megawatt electricity added recently to the national grid came from CPEC.

To spread the industrial base, he said, new industrial parks and special economic zones would be built across the country.

“Both countries will also cooperate in improving efficiency in the textile and garment industry, which makes up the backbone of Pakistan’s export sector. Engineering-based industries will also be developed,” he added.

Iqbal allays neighbours’ ‘concerns’ about CPEC

The minister highlighted that no country could successfully go for industrialisation without modernising the agricultural sector.

“CPEC will allow us to modernise agriculture through the introduction of new technologies such as biological breeding and drip irrigation. The emphasis is on improving the income of small farmers by increasing productivity and efficiency.”

He told the newspaper that coastal tourism could also become a new niche for Pakistan, adding, “CPEC will allow us to build coastal leisure and vacation centres across Keti Bander-Karachi, Sonmiani-Ormara, Jhal Jhao, Gwadar and Jiwani routes.”

The minister said Pakistan and China would also be enhancing monetary cooperation between their central banks. “Both countries have agreed on bilateral currency swap arrangements and will prefer making payments in yuan and rupee for CPEC projects rather than any other currency,” he added.

 

[Clutch]

Success of CPEC imperative for Pakistan, entire region: DG ISPR
Web Desk

RAWALPINDI: Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor has said that peace in Afghanistan is imperative for enduring peace and stability in the region.

In an interview with a private TV Channel, DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said “War against terrorism was a difficult phase and we have restored peace in Pakistan.” He added that Afghanistan will have to do so.

The military spokesman said peace and stability is the future of Pakistan and we are moving towards peace now.

He went on to say Pakistan had a good coordination with International Security Force in Afghanistan and we can achieve peace through effective coordination.

The spokesman said success of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is imperative for Pakistan and the entire region.

In the perspective of CPEC, the dynamics of Balochistan are very important, he said and added, “Now our focus is towards Balochistan.”

He said terrorists were eliminated through Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Replying to a question, he said India has been engaged to destabilize Pakistan through subversive activities and arrest of RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav has vindicated our stance.