ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador in Islamabad Mr. Yao Jing called on Federal Minister of Planning, Development & Reform Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar today.
He appreciated the efforts of the Pakistani government to speed up the CPEC projects particularly the groundbreaking of the western route. The Minister PD&R also hailed China’s support for implementation of Gwadar Airport project.
Secretary of Planning Zafar Hasan, Member Private Sector Asim Saeed, Project Director CPEC Hasan Daud and senior officials also attended the meeting.
Bakhtyar said that the incumbent government gives top priority to the development of Gwadar, highlighting that PM Khan in his recent visit to Balochistan performed groundbreaking of the Rs.65 billion Zhob-Kuchlak section of the western route, Rs.17 billion project of transmission line for Makran coast, Rs.23 billion new Gwadar Airport project, hospital and the vocational institute. The implementation of 300MW energy project in Gwadar will be aligned with the development of Gwadar, he added.
The Minister said that CPEC has gained momentum and efforts would be made to keep up the speed also in future. He stated that first special economic zone at Rashakai will be launched soon in order to enter into the implementation stage of Pak-China Industrial Cooperation. He further said that cooperation will be further strengthened by formal framework agreement focusing on joint ventures, and B2B cooperation.
He emphasized the need for robust cooperation between the business communities of the two countries. ‘We should move towards Pak-China Business Forum with representatives from leading companies of the two countries in various areas’, he added.
During the meeting, deliverables for the proposed visit of the Prime Minister to China to participate in the second Belt & Road Forum this month came under discussion regarding areas of industry cooperation, agriculture, socio-economic development and infrastructure.
The Minister called for cooperation in agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors between the two countries to benefit from the enormous potential this area offers.
