The China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework is moving forward against a headwind posed by Covid-19 pandemic as well as promoting economic development and people\u2019s livelihood in Pakistan. The work on the CPEC, a pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has not slowed down over the past three and half a year. The CPEC has been moving forward against a headwind posed by COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, it is promoting economic development and people\u2019s livelihood in Pakistan, and has been recognized by all spectrum of Pakistan. According to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, he and his colleagues have shared with the media the positive progress achieved in the CPEC framework on many occasions. The CPEC as an important pilot project under the BRI framework followed the principles of joint consultation and contribution for shared benefits. Recently, President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and some media\u2019s positive comments have also surfaced on the progress made in the CPEC flagship project. The railway project is core project with a huge investment and the competent authorities between the two sides are in consultation over it. So called claim that little has been achieved and no program is approved over the past three and half years is pure disinformation. Under the CPEC, agriculture working group, technical working group and technological and scientific working groups have been established under the framework.
\nAnd over the three and a half years under the framework, many livelihood projects have been approved and implemented delivering tangible benefits. No Chinese contractor has been demobilized from Dasu dam project the site and no demands as preconditions to resume the work have been put forward to Pakistani government. In a recent statement, the spokesperson remarked that with fruitful outcomes and cooperation, the CPEC framework was an important platform and project under Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The flagship project has entered an important stage, and going forward, the two countries would focus on industries, science and people\u2019s welfare. According to senior officials, the CPEC has entered to second phase which focuses on industrial relocation, agriculture modernization, science and technology cooperation, job creation and people\u2019s socio-economic well-being.
\nThere is a rapid progress on the development of the Gwadar Port and Free Trade Zone, which would promote regional connectivity and economic integration. The recently held 10th meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee between China and Pakistan reviewed wide-ranging cooperation under the CPEC and identified more areas of cooperation including establishment of a Joint Working Group on Information Technology and Industry. In first phase of CPEC, energy projects which have already been completed include 1,320 mega Watt (MW) capacity coal-fired power plants in Sahiwal (Punjab), Port Qasim (Karachi) and Hub (Balochistan); 660MW Engro Thar coal power project; 1,000MW Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in Bahawalpur (400MW project is complete while 600MW is under-implementation), and some smaller wind & solar energy projects. <\/p>\n
A mega, 878-kilometer long, Matiari to Lahore \u00b1660 KV HVDC Transmission Line project has also been completed with the capacity to evacuate 4,000 MW electricity. The CPEC has also upgraded Pakistan\u2019s national and international highway network to provide more reliable Pakistan-China connectivity across the Karakoram Mountains and smoother inland communications.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework is moving forward against a headwind posed by Covid-19 pandemic as well as promoting economic development and people\u2019s livelihood in Pakistan. The work on the CPEC, a pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has not slowed down over the past three and half a year. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[19,3292],"class_list":{"0":"post-240308","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-editorial","7":"tag-cpec","8":"tag-moving-forward"},"yoast_head":"\n