Sources said that long-term plan (2014-2030) will be a live document. Sources maintained that agreements of three industrial parks or especial economic zones (SEZs), one each in Punjab, KP and Sindh, will be signed by leadership meeting for making them part of the CPEC. The finalized sites for industrial parks are Faisalabad, Punjab; Rashakai, KP; and Dhabeji, Sindh, they further said, adding the two sides will also sign agreements of various projects and Kohala hydel power project and Rahimyar Khan coal power project are expected to be made part of the CPEC.
An official said that the Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) may not be put up for approval and signing in Tuesday's meeting. The JCC will also approve new Gwadar International Airport with modified design with a $220 million grant. Ministry of Planning official insisted that delay in implementation of the project will not lead the cost escalation.
Sources said the two countries had signed minutes of the agreement on new Gwadar international Airport in March 2017 and signing of an agreement will take place between the two countries for construction of the airport today.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reportedly approved Ministry of Planning's proposal of major projects for discussion in the next JCC. A number of projects including rehabilitation and up-gradation of Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar (ML-1) railway track, Gwadar Airport, water desalination plant at Gwadar and technical and vocational institute at Gwadar were suggested for discussion at the JCC meeting from the Pakistani side.
A technical level meeting of the JCC jointly chaired by the secretary planning Shoaib Siddiqui and his Chinese counterpart was attended by the members of Joint Working Groups (JWG) on long-term plan, energy, infrastructure, Gwadar, industrial cooperation as well as security from China and Pakistan, Secretary to the PM Fawad Hassan Fawad, secretaries of the line ministries, chairman Gwadar Development Authority (GDA), chairman Gwadar Port Authority and representatives of the provincial governments.
The secretary planning maintained that Pakistani people as a nation and the government of Pakistan envisage great value to the commitment of Chinese leadership and the people for bringing huge investment, which encouraged international investors to consider Pakistan as their investment destination. He added that the government and the people of Pakistan are committed to completing this mega project.
He expressed the hope that keeping in view the progress of projects in energy and infrastructure sectors and Gwadar, the completion of early harvest projects would be in time and at par with the international standards. Gwadar is the most important element of CPEC which guarantees regional prosperity and well-being of the natives in particular.
Shoaib Siddiqui said that economic corridor is entering into the next phase of industrial cooperation which would make Pakistan a manufacturing hub and an epicenter for connectivity in the region. The secretary planning expressed his satisfaction on the performance of Joint Working Groups which were putting in sincere efforts in a diligent way.
Meanwhile, briefing on the second session of meeting, Spokesman of Ministry of Planning Asim Khan said that joint working groups on long-term plan, industrial cooperation, Gwadar, transport infrastructure, energy and security are holding meetings to review the progress and finalize proposals in their respective areas.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017