Provinces invited to attend CPEC meeting in Beijing next week

[Dawood Ibrahim]

ISLAMABAD: The Centre and the provinces agreed on Thursday to include two projects and two industrial parks each from all the provinces in the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

This was the outcome of a pre-Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting of the CPEC presided over by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and attended by governor and chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan and ministers from all the other provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

It was also decided that the federal and provincial governments would jointly attend the upcoming meeting of the JCC of the CPEC on Dec 29 in Beijing.

Punjab’s Orange Line and Sindh’s Karachi Circular Railway to be part of CPEC priority projects
Punjab’s Orange Line Metro Train Project, Sindh’s Karachi Circular Railway and two similar mass transit projects from Balochistan and KP were identified as priority projects for inclusion in the $51-billion CPEC.

While Sindh’s Keti Bandar Port development was also prioritised, the three other provinces agreed to select one project each of their priority in a day or two so that these could be taken up with the Chinese side during the Dec 29 meeting.

All these projects would be taken to the JCC next week where provincial chief ministers would be participating. The governments of AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan also called for similar treatment that was generally agreed to, but their priorities could not be set at this stage.

A senior government official agreed that the newly prioritised projects have not yet been cleared by the joint working group of the two countries before taking them up before the JCC. However, he emphasised that the condition was of procedural nature and would be completed in due course.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Iqbal said the federal government wanted to ensure inclusion of all provinces and territories to benefit from the CPEC. “It has been decided that federal and provincial governments will take up the case of Pakistan jointly and effectively represent on this bilateral forum,” he said.

Governor KP Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said the megaproject was not only a game-changer for Pakistan, but for the whole region. He said the projects to be initiated in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) would pave a way for prosperity of war-affected areas and benefit the entire region.

Chief Minister KP Pervaiz Khattak also expressed his support for the CPEC, saying he along with other chief ministers would participate in the forthcoming JCC meeting in China. He said his government has provided a priority list of the projects to be included in this megaproject.

“We all are united for the completion of this important project in letter and spirit as it provides an agenda for a developed and economically stable Pakistan,” said Hafizur Rehman, chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Minister for Transport Sindh Nasir Hussain Shah said the Pakistan Peoples Party took full ownership of the CPEC. He expressed his gratitude over approval of the two projects for their inclusion in the CPEC framework.

Minister for Industries Punjab Allau Uddin said his government has proposed different industrial zones to be developed. “We are working to ensure creation of maximum jobs through CPEC projects,” he said.

AJK’s Minister for Planning and Development Dr Najeeb Naqi Khan also appreciated the federal government for considering a number of road projects.

According to a statement, Mr Iqbal earlier told participants that the CPEC has grabbed international attention and many countries were showing interest to be part of it. He requested all the stakeholders to work jointly against lobbies waging campaigns to mislead the masses and make this project controversial.

He asked the provinces to propose economically viable and feasible sites for setting up industrial zones under the CPEC. However, he cautioned that the sites should not be selected on wishes; instead, the selection has to be based on the principles of marketing to attract investors.

The statement said the participants agreed to curtail their long list of proposed special economic zones to two priority industrial zone from each province. Further, they agreed to identify two projects in the field of infrastructure and energy sectors to be considered for inclusion under the CPEC.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2016

 

[mr.robot]

ISLAMABAD: The Centre and the provinces agreed on Thursday to include two projects and two industrial parks each from all the provinces in the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

This was the outcome of a pre-Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting of the CPEC presided over by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and attended by governor and chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan and ministers from all the other provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

It was also decided that the federal and provincial governments would jointly attend the upcoming meeting of the JCC of the CPEC on Dec 29 in Beijing.

Punjab’s Orange Line and Sindh’s Karachi Circular Railway to be part of CPEC priority projects
Punjab’s Orange Line Metro Train Project, Sindh’s Karachi Circular Railway and two similar mass transit projects from Balochistan and KP were identified as priority projects for inclusion in the $51-billion CPEC.

While Sindh’s Keti Bandar Port development was also prioritised, the three other provinces agreed to select one project each of their priority in a day or two so that these could be taken up with the Chinese side during the Dec 29 meeting.

All these projects would be taken to the JCC next week where provincial chief ministers would be participating. The governments of AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan also called for similar treatment that was generally agreed to, but their priorities could not be set at this stage.

A senior government official agreed that the newly prioritised projects have not yet been cleared by the joint working group of the two countries before taking them up before the JCC. However, he emphasised that the condition was of procedural nature and would be completed in due course.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Iqbal said the federal government wanted to ensure inclusion of all provinces and territories to benefit from the CPEC. “It has been decided that federal and provincial governments will take up the case of Pakistan jointly and effectively represent on this bilateral forum,” he said.

Governor KP Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said the megaproject was not only a game-changer for Pakistan, but for the whole region. He said the projects to be initiated in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) would pave a way for prosperity of war-affected areas and benefit the entire region.

Chief Minister KP Pervaiz Khattak also expressed his support for the CPEC, saying he along with other chief ministers would participate in the forthcoming JCC meeting in China. He said his government has provided a priority list of the projects to be included in this megaproject.

“We all are united for the completion of this important project in letter and spirit as it provides an agenda for a developed and economically stable Pakistan,” said Hafizur Rehman, chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Minister for Transport Sindh Nasir Hussain Shah said the Pakistan Peoples Party took full ownership of the CPEC. He expressed his gratitude over approval of the two projects for their inclusion in the CPEC framework.

Minister for Industries Punjab Allau Uddin said his government has proposed different industrial zones to be developed. “We are working to ensure creation of maximum jobs through CPEC projects,” he said.

AJK’s Minister for Planning and Development Dr Najeeb Naqi Khan also appreciated the federal government for considering a number of road projects.

According to a statement, Mr Iqbal earlier told participants that the CPEC has grabbed international attention and many countries were showing interest to be part of it. He requested all the stakeholders to work jointly against lobbies waging campaigns to mislead the masses and make this project controversial.

He asked the provinces to propose economically viable and feasible sites for setting up industrial zones under the CPEC. However, he cautioned that the sites should not be selected on wishes; instead, the selection has to be based on the principles of marketing to attract investors.

The statement said the participants agreed to curtail their long list of proposed special economic zones to two priority industrial zone from each province. Further, they agreed to identify two projects in the field of infrastructure and energy sectors to be considered for inclusion under the CPEC.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2016

Finally, Chinese have realized and also put some sense into PMLN. We have to carry along smaller provinces even if their demands look unjust to some people. You shouldn't expect other provinces to remain silent when a 2 Billions Dollar project a.k.a Orange Train is given to one province which only caters transportation of some population from one city.

 

[Clutch]

Finally, Chinese have realized and also put some sense into PMLN. We have to carry along smaller provinces even if their demands look unjust to some people. You shouldn't expect other provinces to remain silent when a 2 Billions Dollar project a.k.a Orange Train is given to one province which only caters transportation of some population from one city.

You do realize CPEC is not a charity giveaway by sugar daddy China? Or are you confused about what is the basic motive of an investor? Let me enlighten you with class 2 level of understanding: profit.

Now let's assume you are a Chinese investor, would you prefer to invest in a high income area with a large population with dispensable income... or a less developed region with lower income population and an area more prone to terrorist, sectarian violence, of political instability?

See if you can work the puzzle out.

So you see the Chinese kinda want a return on their money.

Other provinces and their respective governments need to take personal responsibility and make their regions viable for foreign investment instead of crying foul.

 

[mr.robot]

You do realize CPEC is not a charity giveaway by sugar daddy China? Or are you confused about what is the basic motive of an investor? Let me enlighten you with class 2 level of understanding: profit.

Now let's assume you are a Chinese investor, would you prefer to invest in a high income area with a large population with dispensable income... or a less developed region with lower income population and an area more prone to terrorist, sectarian violence, of political instability?

See if you can work the puzzle out.

So you see the Chinese kinda want a return on their money.

Other provinces and their respective governments need to take personal responsibility and make their regions viable for foreign investment instead of crying foul.

You seem to have deficit of even montesary level understanding about difference between investment and loan.

Orange Train isn't an investment rather it is a loan and no one would have objection if we know the loan will be paid by Punjab only as this would only benefit a portion of population from one city. If it is not the case which is very likely, other provinces have every right to object it and protest about it.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

I hope that the Federal government & Provincial bodies have a Unified stance on their proposal and project a vision of unity during the discussions about CPEC

Prior to departing for the visit

And I hope they delegate proper control to the person representing the case with other CPEC partners

 

[Clutch]

You seem to have deficit of even montesary level understanding about difference between investment and loan.

Orange Train isn't an investment rather it is a loan and no one would have objection if we know the loan will be paid by Punjab only as this would only benefit a portion of population from one city. If it is not the case which is very likely, other provinces have every right to object it and protest about it.

A loan is a risk for the loaning party. And a liability for the recipient. By loaning someone money you are invested in the project but not as an operator.

Similar risks. Otherwise you end up in a similar situation as the 2008 financial motgage crisis in the USA. ... bad loans.

 

[mr.robot]

A loan is a risk for the loaning party. And a liability for the recipient. By loaning someone money you are invested in the project but not as an operator.

Similar risks. Otherwise you end up in a similar situation as the 2008 financial motgage crisis in the USA. ... bad loans.

Since we are past the argument regarding investment. The question is whether loan will be paid by federation of four provinces or by one province only?

If federation has to pay then "terror prone and less developed crying foul provinces" have every right to dispute it.

 

[I S I]

Let's just hope that CM pencil khattack doesn't embarrass Pakistan there.

 

[Hyde]

I hope Parvez Khattak will not demand for change of route in China. He has some serious issues to resolve and should support the government in national cause

 

[mr.robot]

I hope Parvez Khattak will not demand for change of route in China. He has some serious issues to resolve and should support the government in national cause

PMLN's provincial chapter which is ruling Balochistan has issues regarding western route.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1219208

Sindh also wants their concerns resolved.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1292884

The whole KP assembly, including members belonging to PMLN and JUI-F which are ruling parties in federal, have a issue. They passed a unaniomous resoltuion.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/155044-KP-Assembly-witnesses-heated-debate-on-CPEC

 

[Well.wisher]

These all details should be shared with public too ..

 

[Hyde]

PMLN's provincial chapter which is ruling Balochistan has issues regarding western route.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1219208

Sindh also wants their concerns resolved.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1292884

The whole KP assembly, including members belonging to PMLN and JUI-F which are ruling parties in federal, have a issue. They passed a unaniomous resoltuion.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/155044-KP-Assembly-witnesses-heated-debate-on-CPEC

Balochistan wanted clarification of its due share in CPEC after rumours from KPK circulated that the route of CPEC is possibly been changed. They also became vary of Government’s intentions to prefer Eastern route and wanted to ensure enough funds for western route but the point is, that was just a misconception and the issue was immediately resolved. The western route has already been operational and there is no more obscurity over the issue.

Sindh played typical politics of words but didn’t oppose anything where it mattered the most. We hear them saying something like yeah we have heard rumours that the route is changed, yeah Sindh should get its due share of CPEC, yeah Sindh should be prioritised and all

The only serious backlash came from KPK who openly blamed the government for change of route despite the fact they were unaware of CPEC plan being devised in the first place. There are real issues which KPK should have pursued to gain public support such as only 1 energy project being part of CPEC for KPK out of 34 billion dollars of investment compared to several projects in Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh. But they decided to target the route and kept coming with weird nonsense about change of route.

The original route was published as soon as the President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Pakistan, so the same route is shown in every meeting of the government and they adhered to the principal that no such change has been made. They gave various presentations to the parliamentary committees including members of PTI some of which are also available on YouTube and all political parties seems to have agreed before coming out in the public and starting to accuse again for the same crap. The point is if you see the connectivity of Eastern, Western and Central routes of CPEC it covers almost 90% population in Pakistan, wherever its not covered are being linked with domestic projects of highways, if only a certain area was preferred they could have come with an excuse but here the vision of CPEC is already linking almost every major city of Pakistan. My city is about 100km away from CPEC route so should I also start protesting?

They initially protested that western route is preferred, the government adhered to the point that both routes are under construction at the same time and western route will be completed before Eastern route (which economically does not make sense but strategically important for the people of Balochistan and KPK) and that route have now already been completed but still the controversies are there despite the fact the entire road network has already been laid

My point is, don’t stir controversies on national issues, it just reminds us of Kalabagh dam, rather do soft targets if you want to gain political goals, ask for higher share in industrial parks, energy projects, universities, technical institutes rather than targeting the whole project

 

[Mrc]

I think its time to move beyond arguements... pencil khattack will return satisfied from beijing as their projects have been identified and formally agreed upon as priority projects...

 

[mr.robot]

Balochistan wanted clarification of its due share in CPEC after rumours from KPK circulated that the route of CPEC is possibly been changed. They also became vary of Government’s intentions to prefer Eastern route and wanted to ensure enough funds for western route but the point is, that was just a misconception and the issue was immediately resolved. The western route has already been operational and there is no more obscurity over the issue.

Sindh played typical politics of words but didn’t oppose anything where it mattered the most. We hear them saying something like yeah we have heard rumours that the route is changed, yeah Sindh should get its due share of CPEC, yeah Sindh should be prioritised and all

The only serious backlash came from KPK who openly blamed the government for change of route despite the fact they were unaware of CPEC plan being devised in the first place. There are real issues which KPK should have pursued to gain public support such as only 1 energy project being part of CPEC for KPK out of 34 billion dollars of investment compared to several projects in Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh. But they decided to target the route and kept coming with weird nonsense about change of route.

The original route was published as soon as the President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Pakistan, so the same route is shown in every meeting of the government and they adhered to the principal that no such change has been made. They gave various presentations to the parliamentary committees including members of PTI some of which are also available on YouTube and all political parties seems to have agreed before coming out in the public and starting to accuse again for the same crap. The point is if you see the connectivity of Eastern, Western and Central routes of CPEC it covers almost 90% population in Pakistan, wherever its not covered are being linked with domestic projects of highways, if only a certain area was preferred they could have come with an excuse but here the vision of CPEC is already linking almost every major city of Pakistan. My city is about 100km away from CPEC route so should I also start protesting?

They initially protested that western route is preferred, the government adhered to the point that both routes are under construction at the same time and western route will be completed before Eastern route (which economically does not make sense but strategically important for the people of Balochistan and KPK) and that route have now already been completed but still the controversies are there despite the fact the entire road network has already been laid

My point is, don’t stir controversies on national issues, it just reminds us of Kalabagh dam, rather do soft targets if you want to gain political goals, ask for higher share in industrial parks, energy projects, universities, technical institutes rather than targeting the whole project

Two main issues have been, priority given to western route and indivdiual share of province. I guess that route change is just a tactic to get their other two demands fulfilled which were promised in APC. The issues became serious due to lack of transparency. Major example is Orange Train. If western route concerns have been resolved, demands regarding share should also tried to be met.

We should stop doubting the patriotism of other provinces who were the first one and leading the whole Pakistan Movement way long before the current "custodians" of Pakistan/patriotism joined it.

 

[Pakistansdefender]

You do realize CPEC is not a charity giveaway by sugar daddy China? Or are you confused about what is the basic motive of an investor? Let me enlighten you with class 2 level of understanding: profit.

Now let's assume you are a Chinese investor, would you prefer to invest in a high income area with a large population with dispensable income... or a less developed region with lower income population and an area more prone to terrorist, sectarian violence, of political instability?

See if you can work the puzzle out.

So you see the Chinese kinda want a return on their money.

Other provinces and their respective governments need to take personal responsibility and make their regions viable for foreign investment instead of crying foul.

But if you want to end sectarian violence and terrorism ....you need to invest hugely in undeveloped provinces and then you see a permanent end to all the violence .......
the orange train is not even a very good project ....the original plan consisting of 5 routes for metro trains interconnecting and underground are the true plan , we have ruined that by this stupid design and huge huge amount of corruption only for one line .
besides it causes dissatisfaction among provinces .....shahbaz sherif can do this project separately , they don't have to include this project in cpec but they did ........

Now first Karachi should be given a mega project as it is mini pakistan and major and largest city , and it would ease the life of people living in the largest city of pakistan ....karachi is a huge dumpster now.
the projects can be started together in all provincial capitals simultaneously .........
baluchistan main to pml-n ki government hai , wahan pe turkish ko mana ke aik metro bus hi bana daita to un ka dil itna bara ho jata ..............aik project peshawar main vote laine ke liyn hi bana daita but they dont have any vision......