Muhammad Omar
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China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) | Updates & Discussions
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Muhammad Omar
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Port Qasim Coal Power Plant
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif being briefed on Port Qasim Coal-Fired Power Project during his visit at Port Qasim Karachi on December 28, 2015.
Chinese Ambassador H.E. Mr. Sun Weidong was also accompanied with the PM on Project Site.
PM inaugurates western route of CPEC in Zhob
—
The premier laid the foundation stone of two key sections of the motorway, at the inauguration of the western route of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). —DawnNews
QUETTA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the western route of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Balochistan's Zhob on Wednesday and laid the foundation stones of two key projects: upgradation of the Zhob-Mughal Kot section of the Dera Ismail Khan-Qila Saifullah Highway (N-50) and the Qilla Saifullah-Waigam Rud Road section of the Multan-Dera Ghazi Khan-Qilla Saifullah Highway (N-70), reported Radio Pakistan.
The Zhob-Mughal Kot Section is part of the western route of the CPEC which starts from Burhan on the Peshawar-Islamabad motorway (M-1), and after moving through DI Khan, Zhob, Quetta, Surab and Hoshab, ends at Gwadar.
The Zhob-Mughal Kot section is 81 kilometres (km) long and its upgradation will cost Rs9 billion, and is expected to be completed by 2018. The Qilla Saifullah-Waigam Rud section is 128km long and will cost around Rs 8bn.
The prime minister was also briefed on the projects. Chairman National Highway Authority Shahid Ashraf Tarar while addressing the inauguration ceremony said motorways and expressways in Pakistan in the next three years will span lengths thrice as long as they currently are.
From Khunjerab to Gwadar, all areas will be connected by means of motorways, he said, adding that the routes would make it easier for traders to access markets.
Balochistan's development top priority: PM
Addressing attendees at the inaugural ceremony, the premier urged all political forces to create a united front in order to eradicate the curse of terrorism from the country.
"I cannot do it alone," PM Nawaz emphasised.
The premier said the project would open new vistas of development and prosperity in the region. "The country will progress after this project," he stated. "Pakistan's progress will start from Balochistan."
Nawaz emphasied that Balochistan's development was his government's top priority, and that the province played a crucial role in the development of the country.
He also briefly referred to the progress made with India in the matter of bilateral negotiations. PM Nawaz thanked the Indian prime minister for visiting Pakistan. "It has been agreed that we will re-start the dialogue between Pakistan and India," he said.
No negative propaganda against CPEC: Zehri
Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Sanaullah Zehri discouraged "negative propaganda against the CPEC" at the inauguration of the western route of the CPEC. —DawnNews
Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Sanaullah Zehri felt the project was the "positive stride" towards the country's economic development. Alluding to recent controversies over the CPEC project, he further said, "There has to be no negative propaganda against CPEC."
Senator Hasil Bizenjo, meanwhile, said that had the development projects been completed in a timely manner in the past, there would have been long-sustained peace in the troubled province. "Poverty and unemployment are the underlying causes of terrorism," he said.
JUI chief Maulana Fazal ur Rehman similarly felt that the CPEC project was a matter of "immense pleasure", since it addressed basic issues in the province and would help pave the way for durable piece in the region. The Maulana also said that peace in Afghanistan was crucial for Pakistan. "The war-torn country provides access to resource-rich central asian states," he added.
Mehmood Achakzai also stressed upon the necessity of smooth and transparent working relations with neighboring countries to make the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) pipeline project a success. He demanded that PM Nawaz take all political forces in confidence regarding the giant CPEC project.
"We want to develop at all costs," Mian Iftikhar of ANP said. However, while he felt the western route was an important step in the process of eliminating terrorism from the country, the port of Gwadar, he felt, belonged to Balochistan first.
"Gwadar first belongs to the Balochs, and then to Pakistan," Iftikhar stated.
The ceremony was attended by key party representatives and government officials, including JUI-F chief Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, secretary general of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) Mushahid Hussain Syed, ANP Central General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain Shah, National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen (retd) Janjua, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Federal Minister for Textile and Industries Abbas Khan Afridi, and Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri earlier said that the CPEC would help provide jobs to millions of youths in Balochistan besides boosting the local economy.
CPEC: Background
Map courtesy: Planning Commission
The CPEC is a 3,000-kilometer network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport oil and gas from Gwadar Port to Kashgar city, northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, China Daily reports.
Proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Pakistan in May 2013, the CPEC will act as a bridge for the new Maritime Silk Route that envisages linking three billion people in Asia, Africa and Europe.
An official agreement on the corridor was signed between the two countries in May this year during President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Pakistan.
A flagship project of the Belt and Road initiative as well, the CPEC intends to revive the ancient Silk Road with a focus on infrastructure, and constitutes the strategic framework of bilateral cooperation.
The project links China's strategy to develop its western region with Pakistan's focus on boosting its economy, including the infrastructure construction of Gwadar Port, together with some energy cooperation and investment programs.
It also involves road and railway construction including an upgrade of the 1,300-km Karakoram Highway, the highest paved international road in the world which connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountains.
The CPEC will reduce China's routes of oil and gas imports from Africa and the Middle East by thousands of kilometers, making Gwadar a potentially vital link in China's supply chain.
Controversy over CPEC routes
The project has generated controversy with political leaders particularly of smaller provinces alleging the project has been altered to benefit Punjab, who criticise the western route being inagurated first.
The route, which includes the Gawadar-Kashgar road, has been designed for heavy transportation so it benefits local as well as international trade that will flow through it.
The eastern route, meanwhile comprises motorways from Gwadar to Sukkur to Multan and then to Lahore and further.
Critics say that different specifications of the two routes will automatically dictate the transporters' first choice, resulting in the use of eastern route as the only use.
The route apparently under its original plan ran from Gwadar to Quetta, then up to Zhob before veering east towards Dera Ismail Khan.
The government changed this route to go straight east from Gwadar towards Khuzdar, then slightly northeast to cross the River Indus near Ratodero and connect with the road network in Sindh, a decision that was heavly criticised.
The government strenuously denied that any route changes were made, arguing that both the eastern and western routes are being pursued, and on the request of the Chinese, the second route is being built first simply because it is cheaper to do so
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif being briefed on Port Qasim Coal-Fired Power Project during his visit at Port Qasim Karachi on December 28, 2015.
Chinese Ambassador H.E. Mr. Sun Weidong was also accompanied with the PM on Project Site.
PM inaugurates western route of CPEC in Zhob
The premier laid the foundation stone of two key sections of the motorway, at the inauguration of the western route of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). —DawnNews
QUETTA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the western route of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Balochistan's Zhob on Wednesday and laid the foundation stones of two key projects: upgradation of the Zhob-Mughal Kot section of the Dera Ismail Khan-Qila Saifullah Highway (N-50) and the Qilla Saifullah-Waigam Rud Road section of the Multan-Dera Ghazi Khan-Qilla Saifullah Highway (N-70), reported Radio Pakistan.
The Zhob-Mughal Kot Section is part of the western route of the CPEC which starts from Burhan on the Peshawar-Islamabad motorway (M-1), and after moving through DI Khan, Zhob, Quetta, Surab and Hoshab, ends at Gwadar.
The Zhob-Mughal Kot section is 81 kilometres (km) long and its upgradation will cost Rs9 billion, and is expected to be completed by 2018. The Qilla Saifullah-Waigam Rud section is 128km long and will cost around Rs 8bn.
The prime minister was also briefed on the projects. Chairman National Highway Authority Shahid Ashraf Tarar while addressing the inauguration ceremony said motorways and expressways in Pakistan in the next three years will span lengths thrice as long as they currently are.
From Khunjerab to Gwadar, all areas will be connected by means of motorways, he said, adding that the routes would make it easier for traders to access markets.
Balochistan's development top priority: PM
Addressing attendees at the inaugural ceremony, the premier urged all political forces to create a united front in order to eradicate the curse of terrorism from the country.
"I cannot do it alone," PM Nawaz emphasised.
The premier said the project would open new vistas of development and prosperity in the region. "The country will progress after this project," he stated. "Pakistan's progress will start from Balochistan."
Nawaz emphasied that Balochistan's development was his government's top priority, and that the province played a crucial role in the development of the country.
He also briefly referred to the progress made with India in the matter of bilateral negotiations. PM Nawaz thanked the Indian prime minister for visiting Pakistan. "It has been agreed that we will re-start the dialogue between Pakistan and India," he said.
No negative propaganda against CPEC: Zehri
Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Sanaullah Zehri felt the project was the "positive stride" towards the country's economic development. Alluding to recent controversies over the CPEC project, he further said, "There has to be no negative propaganda against CPEC."
Senator Hasil Bizenjo, meanwhile, said that had the development projects been completed in a timely manner in the past, there would have been long-sustained peace in the troubled province. "Poverty and unemployment are the underlying causes of terrorism," he said.
JUI chief Maulana Fazal ur Rehman similarly felt that the CPEC project was a matter of "immense pleasure", since it addressed basic issues in the province and would help pave the way for durable piece in the region. The Maulana also said that peace in Afghanistan was crucial for Pakistan. "The war-torn country provides access to resource-rich central asian states," he added.
Mehmood Achakzai also stressed upon the necessity of smooth and transparent working relations with neighboring countries to make the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) pipeline project a success. He demanded that PM Nawaz take all political forces in confidence regarding the giant CPEC project.
"We want to develop at all costs," Mian Iftikhar of ANP said. However, while he felt the western route was an important step in the process of eliminating terrorism from the country, the port of Gwadar, he felt, belonged to Balochistan first.
"Gwadar first belongs to the Balochs, and then to Pakistan," Iftikhar stated.
The ceremony was attended by key party representatives and government officials, including JUI-F chief Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, secretary general of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) Mushahid Hussain Syed, ANP Central General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain Shah, National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen (retd) Janjua, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Federal Minister for Textile and Industries Abbas Khan Afridi, and Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri earlier said that the CPEC would help provide jobs to millions of youths in Balochistan besides boosting the local economy.
CPEC: Background
The CPEC is a 3,000-kilometer network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport oil and gas from Gwadar Port to Kashgar city, northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, China Daily reports.
Proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Pakistan in May 2013, the CPEC will act as a bridge for the new Maritime Silk Route that envisages linking three billion people in Asia, Africa and Europe.
An official agreement on the corridor was signed between the two countries in May this year during President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Pakistan.
A flagship project of the Belt and Road initiative as well, the CPEC intends to revive the ancient Silk Road with a focus on infrastructure, and constitutes the strategic framework of bilateral cooperation.
The project links China's strategy to develop its western region with Pakistan's focus on boosting its economy, including the infrastructure construction of Gwadar Port, together with some energy cooperation and investment programs.
It also involves road and railway construction including an upgrade of the 1,300-km Karakoram Highway, the highest paved international road in the world which connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountains.
The CPEC will reduce China's routes of oil and gas imports from Africa and the Middle East by thousands of kilometers, making Gwadar a potentially vital link in China's supply chain.
Controversy over CPEC routes
The project has generated controversy with political leaders particularly of smaller provinces alleging the project has been altered to benefit Punjab, who criticise the western route being inagurated first.
The route, which includes the Gawadar-Kashgar road, has been designed for heavy transportation so it benefits local as well as international trade that will flow through it.
The eastern route, meanwhile comprises motorways from Gwadar to Sukkur to Multan and then to Lahore and further.
Critics say that different specifications of the two routes will automatically dictate the transporters' first choice, resulting in the use of eastern route as the only use.
The route apparently under its original plan ran from Gwadar to Quetta, then up to Zhob before veering east towards Dera Ismail Khan.
The government changed this route to go straight east from Gwadar towards Khuzdar, then slightly northeast to cross the River Indus near Ratodero and connect with the road network in Sindh, a decision that was heavly criticised.
The government strenuously denied that any route changes were made, arguing that both the eastern and western routes are being pursued, and on the request of the Chinese, the second route is being built first simply because it is cheaper to do so
Muhammad Omar
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Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif unveils the inaugural plaque for the up-gradation of Zhob-Mughal Kot road (N-50) at Zhob Balochistan on December 30, 2015.
Officially started Civil Work on Western Route of China Pakistan Economic Corridor - CPEC
Chinese Trucks Seen Surpassing Japanese Rigs on Pakistan's Roads
Chinese trucks may become a more common sight than Japanese rigs on Pakistan’s roads as rising infrastructure investment creates demand for cheap and durable commercial vehicles.
To benefit from their expected growth in popularity, Karachi-based Ghandhara Nissan Ltd. began assembling China’s Dongfeng trucks in 2013, in addition to Japan’s UD brand. Ghandhara forecasts its Chinese truck sales will more than double to about 200 units in the year ending June and surpass UD deliveries in the next two years, according to Muazzam Pervaiz Malik, senior executive director for marketing at the company.
“Initially they were scared about the quality, but China has improved,” Malik said in an interview. “With the China-Pakistan economic corridor, more dams and motorways, we expect truck demand to grow.”
South Asia’s second-largest economy is forecast to grow at the fastest pace since 2008 and is seen as a beneficiary of the $45 billion that China has pledged in infrastructureinvestment to more tightly link its economy with Europe through central and western Asia.
The spending may help drive a 50 percent increase in truck sales to as many as 7,000 units a year by 2020, according to Ghandhara’s estimates. The company’s revenue will rise about 10 percent in the year ending June 30, buoyed by higher Dongfeng sales, Malik said.
Ghandhara’s stock has surged more than threefold this year for the biggest gain among auto retailers globally, buoyed by the truck demand and expectations that it will begin producing passenger cars in 2017. The shares dropped 4.7 percent to 181.4 rupees in Karachi yesterday.
The local newspaper Dawn reported in August that Ghandhara plans to start assembling Nissan Motor Co.’s Datsun cars in 2017. Ghandhara declined to comment on its future plans, while Nissan said no decision has been made on production in Pakistan.
Officially started Civil Work on Western Route of China Pakistan Economic Corridor - CPEC
Chinese Trucks Seen Surpassing Japanese Rigs on Pakistan's Roads
- Ghandhara Nissan began assembling Dongfeng trucks in 2013
- China-Pakistan economic corridor seen boosting truck demand
Chinese trucks may become a more common sight than Japanese rigs on Pakistan’s roads as rising infrastructure investment creates demand for cheap and durable commercial vehicles.
To benefit from their expected growth in popularity, Karachi-based Ghandhara Nissan Ltd. began assembling China’s Dongfeng trucks in 2013, in addition to Japan’s UD brand. Ghandhara forecasts its Chinese truck sales will more than double to about 200 units in the year ending June and surpass UD deliveries in the next two years, according to Muazzam Pervaiz Malik, senior executive director for marketing at the company.
“Initially they were scared about the quality, but China has improved,” Malik said in an interview. “With the China-Pakistan economic corridor, more dams and motorways, we expect truck demand to grow.”
South Asia’s second-largest economy is forecast to grow at the fastest pace since 2008 and is seen as a beneficiary of the $45 billion that China has pledged in infrastructureinvestment to more tightly link its economy with Europe through central and western Asia.
The spending may help drive a 50 percent increase in truck sales to as many as 7,000 units a year by 2020, according to Ghandhara’s estimates. The company’s revenue will rise about 10 percent in the year ending June 30, buoyed by higher Dongfeng sales, Malik said.
Ghandhara’s stock has surged more than threefold this year for the biggest gain among auto retailers globally, buoyed by the truck demand and expectations that it will begin producing passenger cars in 2017. The shares dropped 4.7 percent to 181.4 rupees in Karachi yesterday.
The local newspaper Dawn reported in August that Ghandhara plans to start assembling Nissan Motor Co.’s Datsun cars in 2017. Ghandhara declined to comment on its future plans, while Nissan said no decision has been made on production in Pakistan.
Muhammad Omar
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COAS General Raheel Sharif visited Turbat, Talar and Gawadar
COAS General Raheel Sharif visited Turbat, Talar and Gawadar today and reviewed progress of projects being constructed by Army Engineers as part of China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
620 KMs Road out of 870 had been completed by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) at an amazing pace.
COAS was briefed in detail about the law and order situation in Balochistan particularly in Makran division and progress on the ongoing development projects. He was told that overall security situation in Makran division had improved, and graph of militancy had declined considerably.
COAS paid rich tributes to Shuhada of Army, other Law enforcement agencies and civilians who laid down their lives for security and development of the area.
COAS expressed his satisfaction over steps being taken for restoration of peace in Makran Division and directed all concerned to take stringent security measures for the security of engineers and labourers, particularly for Chinese nationals working on Gwadar Port and other projects.
While highlighting the importance of under construction projects linked with the CPEC and Gawadar Port, COAS said all possible measures in coordination with civil government would be taken to make Gwadar a safe city for local and foreign investors. He said these projects will transform the lives of people of Pakistan particularly Balochistan and bring prosperity to the region.
COAS appreciated army troops engaged in various development works particularly FWO for their untiring efforts and sacrifices in construction of a vast road network across the length and breadth of Balochistan, against all odds, at an amazing pace.
Interacting with local elders, COAS also paid rich tributes to the proud and valiant people of Balochistan and thanked them for their unconditional cooperation and support for development projects, assuring them that they will be best served by these projects.
COAS emphasized that the potential of Balochistan as a regional hub for trade in goods and energy will only be realized with a whole of nation approach for its security and development.
Commending Army, FC and other LEAs for extra ordinary efforts for security, COAS said completion of these projects is directly linked with law and order situation of the Province and vowed that the armed forces will take all necessary actions to help bring back normality.
Muhammad Omar
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Muhammad Omar
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Here you Go Found out the Official Special Economic Zones which will be developed by Federal Government of Pakistan under CPEC
LIST: List of CPEC's 27 Special Economic Zones (SEZ) to be developed by the Federal Government [Pakistan]:
Baluchistan:
1. Gwadar (3,000 acres)
2. Lasbela (1,290 acres)
3. Turbat (1,000 acres)
4. Dera Murad Jamali (50 acres)
5. Winder
6. Khuzdar (50 acres)
7. Bolan (1,000 acres).
Sindh:
8. Karachi (2,000 acres)
9. Karachi (300 acres)
10. Port Qasim (1,250 acres)
KHYBERPAKHTUNKHWA:
11. Mansehra (80 acres)
12. Nowshera (1,000 acres)
13. Hatter (424 acres)
14. Chitral (80 acres)
15. Ghazi (90 acres)
16. Dera Ismail Khan (188 acres)
17. Kohat/Karak Border
18. Bannu (400 acres)
PUNJAB
19. Multan (80 acres)
20. Rahim Yar Khan (450 acres)
21. Bhalwal (400 acres)
22. DG Khan (3,815 acres)
23. Mianwali (600 acres)
24. Rawalpindi (200 acres)
25. Pind Dadan Khan (1,000 acres)
GILGITBALTISTAN:
26, Moqpondass (2,000 kanals)
ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY:
27. Islamabad
NOTE: Provincial Governments are free to set up their own SEZs at places of their own choosing
Economic Corridor: 27 sites identified for SEZs
The federal government has identified as many as 27 sites in provinces, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Gilgit-Baltistan for setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), it is learnt. Sources in the Finance Division and the Planning Commission told Business Recorder that provincial governments have also been requested to allocate land for sites of SEZs.
The federal government has identified seven sites in Balochistan for the establishment of SEZs. The sites identified in Balochistan for industrial estates are as follows: (i) Gwadar with 3,000 acres for mines, minerals, food processing, agriculture and livestock, (ii) industrial estate at Lasbela (1,290 acres, iron steel, hardware, paper industry, pharmaceuticals), (iii) industrial and trading estate at Turbat (1,000 acres, manufacturing), (iv) Dera Murad Jamali with 50 acres, (v) Winder Industrial and Trading Estate, (vi) mini industrial estate Khuzdar (50 acres) and (vii) Bolan Industrial Estate (1,000 acres). The government has identified three sites in Sindh to set up Special Economic Zones, which include Chinese industrial zone near Karachi (2,000 acres, Exclusive Chinese Industrial Estate), Textile City at Port Qasim, Karachi with (1,250 acres) and Marble City at Karachi with (300 acres).
As per official documents, eight sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province have also been identified for special economic zones. They include, marble and granite based industrial estate at Mansehra (80 acres, mining), industrial estate Nowshera (1000 acres, manufacturing), expansion of Industrial Estate Hatter (424 acres, manufacturing), industrial estate at Chitral (80 acres, food processing) as well as Industrial Estate Ghazi (90 acres, manufacturing) and industrial estate Dera Ismail Khan (188 acres, manufacturing).
Industrial estate at border of Kohat and Karak and industrial and economic zone at Bannu (400 acre) in KP have also been identified as sites for SEZ under CPEC. The government has identified seven sites for special industrial zones in Punjab. These included Multan Industrial Estate phase-II (80 acres), Rahim Yar Khan Industrial Estate (450 acres), Bhalwal Industrial Estate (400 acres), DG Khan Industrial Estate (3815 acres), Mianwali Industrial Estate (600 acres), Rawalpindi Industrial Estate (200 acres) and Pind Dadan Khan Industrial City (10000 acres) for agri, textile, food processing, livestock, manufacturing & energy).
Additionally, the existing under-development sites would also be included in SEZs for the CPEC. One site for special economic zones in Gilgit-Baltistan Moqpondass (2,000 kanal, mining & food processing) and one for Islamabad Capital Territory has also been identified under the CPEC.
KARAKORAM HIGHWAY
GILGIT-BALTISTAN: Sunset view of the upgraded 2-lane Karakoram Highway (KKH), or N-35, with the world's ninth tallest mountain, Nanga Parbat (8,126 m [26,660 ft]), in the background. The KKH is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Development projects: Army chief, Balochistan CM visit different areas
PHOTO: REUTERS
QUETTA: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri have jointly resolved that the western route of the China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be completed on time in order to make the Gwadar deep sea port fully functional.
The two visited Turbat, Talar and Gwadar where they inspected ongoing development works and addressed public gatherings of tribal elders and citizens. They said the water scarcity issue in Mekran division would be resolved on priority basis.
Multibillion-dollar project: Nawaz inaugurates CPEC’s western route
No hindrance in water supply to Gwadar will be tolerated. The authorities concerned should furnish reports on construction of dams and installation of desalination plants to filter and purify seawater to meet water requirements in Gwadar and adjoining areas, they said.
They agreed that the civil and military leadership was on same page to execute and implement mega development projects, especially CPEC, Gwadar deep seaport and dams in order to put Balochistan on track to development.
“The military will extend its all-out cooperation to the Balochistan government for the timely completion of the mega development projects so that people of the province may get benefits from it,” the army chief said.
The Balochistan chief minister told the army chief that Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has been contacted for release of funds for the ongoing development projects in Gwadar, Turbat and other areas of Mekran division.
A matter of CPEC and priorities: Extreme steps threatened if western corridor neglected
He said the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has been working on road projects in Balochistan, including Gwadar-Rato Dero Motorway, western route of CPEC, N-70 and N-50. He appreciated the role and sacrifices of FWO in Balochistan.
LIST: List of CPEC's 27 Special Economic Zones (SEZ) to be developed by the Federal Government [Pakistan]:
Baluchistan:
1. Gwadar (3,000 acres)
2. Lasbela (1,290 acres)
3. Turbat (1,000 acres)
4. Dera Murad Jamali (50 acres)
5. Winder
6. Khuzdar (50 acres)
7. Bolan (1,000 acres).
Sindh:
8. Karachi (2,000 acres)
9. Karachi (300 acres)
10. Port Qasim (1,250 acres)
KHYBERPAKHTUNKHWA:
11. Mansehra (80 acres)
12. Nowshera (1,000 acres)
13. Hatter (424 acres)
14. Chitral (80 acres)
15. Ghazi (90 acres)
16. Dera Ismail Khan (188 acres)
17. Kohat/Karak Border
18. Bannu (400 acres)
PUNJAB
19. Multan (80 acres)
20. Rahim Yar Khan (450 acres)
21. Bhalwal (400 acres)
22. DG Khan (3,815 acres)
23. Mianwali (600 acres)
24. Rawalpindi (200 acres)
25. Pind Dadan Khan (1,000 acres)
GILGITBALTISTAN:
26, Moqpondass (2,000 kanals)
ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY:
27. Islamabad
NOTE: Provincial Governments are free to set up their own SEZs at places of their own choosing
Economic Corridor: 27 sites identified for SEZs
The federal government has identified as many as 27 sites in provinces, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Gilgit-Baltistan for setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), it is learnt. Sources in the Finance Division and the Planning Commission told Business Recorder that provincial governments have also been requested to allocate land for sites of SEZs.
The federal government has identified seven sites in Balochistan for the establishment of SEZs. The sites identified in Balochistan for industrial estates are as follows: (i) Gwadar with 3,000 acres for mines, minerals, food processing, agriculture and livestock, (ii) industrial estate at Lasbela (1,290 acres, iron steel, hardware, paper industry, pharmaceuticals), (iii) industrial and trading estate at Turbat (1,000 acres, manufacturing), (iv) Dera Murad Jamali with 50 acres, (v) Winder Industrial and Trading Estate, (vi) mini industrial estate Khuzdar (50 acres) and (vii) Bolan Industrial Estate (1,000 acres). The government has identified three sites in Sindh to set up Special Economic Zones, which include Chinese industrial zone near Karachi (2,000 acres, Exclusive Chinese Industrial Estate), Textile City at Port Qasim, Karachi with (1,250 acres) and Marble City at Karachi with (300 acres).
As per official documents, eight sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province have also been identified for special economic zones. They include, marble and granite based industrial estate at Mansehra (80 acres, mining), industrial estate Nowshera (1000 acres, manufacturing), expansion of Industrial Estate Hatter (424 acres, manufacturing), industrial estate at Chitral (80 acres, food processing) as well as Industrial Estate Ghazi (90 acres, manufacturing) and industrial estate Dera Ismail Khan (188 acres, manufacturing).
Industrial estate at border of Kohat and Karak and industrial and economic zone at Bannu (400 acre) in KP have also been identified as sites for SEZ under CPEC. The government has identified seven sites for special industrial zones in Punjab. These included Multan Industrial Estate phase-II (80 acres), Rahim Yar Khan Industrial Estate (450 acres), Bhalwal Industrial Estate (400 acres), DG Khan Industrial Estate (3815 acres), Mianwali Industrial Estate (600 acres), Rawalpindi Industrial Estate (200 acres) and Pind Dadan Khan Industrial City (10000 acres) for agri, textile, food processing, livestock, manufacturing & energy).
Additionally, the existing under-development sites would also be included in SEZs for the CPEC. One site for special economic zones in Gilgit-Baltistan Moqpondass (2,000 kanal, mining & food processing) and one for Islamabad Capital Territory has also been identified under the CPEC.
KARAKORAM HIGHWAY
GILGIT-BALTISTAN: Sunset view of the upgraded 2-lane Karakoram Highway (KKH), or N-35, with the world's ninth tallest mountain, Nanga Parbat (8,126 m [26,660 ft]), in the background. The KKH is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Development projects: Army chief, Balochistan CM visit different areas
PHOTO: REUTERS
QUETTA: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri have jointly resolved that the western route of the China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be completed on time in order to make the Gwadar deep sea port fully functional.
The two visited Turbat, Talar and Gwadar where they inspected ongoing development works and addressed public gatherings of tribal elders and citizens. They said the water scarcity issue in Mekran division would be resolved on priority basis.
Multibillion-dollar project: Nawaz inaugurates CPEC’s western route
No hindrance in water supply to Gwadar will be tolerated. The authorities concerned should furnish reports on construction of dams and installation of desalination plants to filter and purify seawater to meet water requirements in Gwadar and adjoining areas, they said.
They agreed that the civil and military leadership was on same page to execute and implement mega development projects, especially CPEC, Gwadar deep seaport and dams in order to put Balochistan on track to development.
“The military will extend its all-out cooperation to the Balochistan government for the timely completion of the mega development projects so that people of the province may get benefits from it,” the army chief said.
The Balochistan chief minister told the army chief that Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has been contacted for release of funds for the ongoing development projects in Gwadar, Turbat and other areas of Mekran division.
A matter of CPEC and priorities: Extreme steps threatened if western corridor neglected
He said the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has been working on road projects in Balochistan, including Gwadar-Rato Dero Motorway, western route of CPEC, N-70 and N-50. He appreciated the role and sacrifices of FWO in Balochistan.
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CPEC: Pakistan Navy ramps up security at Gwadar
QUETTA: Pakistan Navy has increased all-round security and surveillance at Gwadar Port with the commencement of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, reported Radio Pakistan.
"A special marine battalion has been raised for the security of Gwadar," stated a spokesperson of the Pakistan Navy while briefing media personnel during an extensive tour of the Gwadar site.
He added that Chinese engineers and delegates are currently visiting the port of Gwadar.
Gwadar is the port of origin and starting destination for CPEC, which will be linked to China's western region through a rail and road network.
"Gwadar is the backbone of CPEC," the spokesperson said, adding that the Pakistan Navy has been making strenuous efforts to ensure comprehensive security as well as the welfare of local people.
CPEC: Background
The CPEC is a 3,000-kilometer network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport oil and gas from Gwadar Port to Kashgar city, northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
Proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Pakistan in May 2013, the CPEC will act as a bridge for the new Maritime Silk Route that envisages linking three billion people in Asia, Africa and Europe.
An official agreement on the corridor was signed between the two countries in May this year during President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Pakistan.
A flagship project of the Belt and Road initiative as well, the CPEC intends to revive the ancient Silk Road with a focus on infrastructure, and constitutes the strategic framework of bilateral cooperation.
The project links China's strategy to develop its western region with Pakistan's focus on boosting its economy, including the infrastructure construction of Gwadar Port, together with some energy cooperation and investment programs.
It also involves road and railway construction including an upgrade of the 1,300-km Karakoram Highway, the highest paved international road in the world which connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountains.
The CPEC will reduce China's routes of oil and gas imports from Africa and the Middle East by thousands of kilometers, making Gwadar a potentially vital link in China's supply chain.
CPEC: Pakistan Navy ramps up security at Gwadar - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
QUETTA: Pakistan Navy has increased all-round security and surveillance at Gwadar Port with the commencement of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, reported Radio Pakistan.
"A special marine battalion has been raised for the security of Gwadar," stated a spokesperson of the Pakistan Navy while briefing media personnel during an extensive tour of the Gwadar site.
He added that Chinese engineers and delegates are currently visiting the port of Gwadar.
Gwadar is the port of origin and starting destination for CPEC, which will be linked to China's western region through a rail and road network.
"Gwadar is the backbone of CPEC," the spokesperson said, adding that the Pakistan Navy has been making strenuous efforts to ensure comprehensive security as well as the welfare of local people.
CPEC: Background
The CPEC is a 3,000-kilometer network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport oil and gas from Gwadar Port to Kashgar city, northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
Proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Pakistan in May 2013, the CPEC will act as a bridge for the new Maritime Silk Route that envisages linking three billion people in Asia, Africa and Europe.
An official agreement on the corridor was signed between the two countries in May this year during President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Pakistan.
A flagship project of the Belt and Road initiative as well, the CPEC intends to revive the ancient Silk Road with a focus on infrastructure, and constitutes the strategic framework of bilateral cooperation.
The project links China's strategy to develop its western region with Pakistan's focus on boosting its economy, including the infrastructure construction of Gwadar Port, together with some energy cooperation and investment programs.
It also involves road and railway construction including an upgrade of the 1,300-km Karakoram Highway, the highest paved international road in the world which connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountains.
The CPEC will reduce China's routes of oil and gas imports from Africa and the Middle East by thousands of kilometers, making Gwadar a potentially vital link in China's supply chain.
CPEC: Pakistan Navy ramps up security at Gwadar - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
Muhammad Omar
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Burhan - DI Khan (KPK)
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Hazara Expressway/ Motorway
Near Chechiyan Interchange toward Havelian
Near Chechiyan Interchange toward Havelian
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Official route map of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC that was shared by the Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, during the National Assembly Session
Federal Minister for Development&Reform Ahsan Iqbal inaugurating the Geo Spatial Technology Cell at CPEC Secretariat.
Western route of CPEC to be completed by 2018
QUETTA: The western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which would connect the port city of Gwadar with Quetta via Khuzdar, would be completed by 2018, said National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar on Tuesday.
He told Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri that 95 per cent of construction work on Gwadar-Ratodero road had been completed. However, he said, security was needed to complete all road projects (in the province) in time.
The CM assured Mr Tarar that his government would provide security to engineers, technical staff and labourers involved in the execution of CPEC and other road projects.
During their meeting, Mr Zehri and the NHA head discussed ongoing road projects in Balochistan, particularly those related to the economic corridor.
The CPEC is a 3,000-km network of roads, railways and oil and gas pipelines from Gwadar port to Kashgar city in north-western China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Gwadar is the port of origin and starting point for the CPEC.
The meeting reviewed pace of work on ongoing road projects in Balochistan and decided to accelerate it to ensure timely completion of the roads, which would link Gwadar port with rest of the country.
CPEC PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED IN PHASES: AHSAN IQBAL
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a project of national importance and would be completed in phases for the economic development of the country.
Addressing media persons after inauguration of GEO Spatial Technology Cell set up at the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, he said, in the first phase, the road connectivity would be completed to interconnect not only all the provinces but also the entire region.
He said that no new road was being constructed under this project but the existing roads were being upgraded to connect different areas of the country.
Ahsan Iqbal said the 650 KM Gwadar-Surab road was being completed on priority basis to link the all important Gwadar Port with rest of the country.
He informed that upgradation of Quetta-DI Khan road was imperative keeping in view its importance. Terming the CPEC equally beneficial for the entire country, the Minister informed that he would soon hold a meeting with Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhaw to remove his reservations regarding the project.
He said, federal government would fulfill all the commitments made at All Parties Conference (APC) in May, 2015, and would build Western route, passing through backward areas of KPK and Balochistan on priority basis.
The Minister however cautioned that this project of national importance would not be politicized as political point scoring could discourage foreign investors. He said, this project was an opportunity which would put the country on rapid path of progress and development.
Responding to a question about the setting up on energy and infrastructure development projects in different parts of the country, he said out of total 46 billion dollars, 38 billion dollars would be invested in power sector throughprivate investors.
The government could not force them to initiate these projects at sites of its choice, he added. The minister said the remaining six billion dollars would be a concessional financing from Chinese government for the projects of infrastructure.
Responding to yet another question regarding selection of the sites for the energy projects, he said as the CPEC was a bilateral project, any project would be set up at a particular site after complete consensus of the experts of both countries.
About GEO Spatial Technology Cell, he said, the cell would help application of infrastructure planning and economic development on the scientific basis. He said this cell would also monitor progress on the work of different infrastructure projects being completed under the CPEC initiative.
FIVE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES UPGRADE UNDER CPEC
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has upgraded five industrial estates as special economic zones under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor programme.
These include Multan Industrial Estate phase-II, Rahim Yar Industrial Estate, Bhalwal Industrial Estate and Mianwali, Rawalpindi and Dera Ghazi Khan industrial estates,reported Radio Pakistan.
Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company Chairman S M Tanveer said in Lahore that the upgradation of these industrial estates will create more than one 150,000 jobs and bring billions of rupees investment.
Muhammad Omar
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Pak-China to build a 1200 acre eco-friendly Industrial Estate
A memorandum of understanding was signed by Punjab Board of Investment and Trade, Shandong Yulong Real Estate Group and Roshan Packages PVT LTD here in Lahore.
Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Amena Cheema was representing PBIT, Mr. Sunato was representing Shandong Yulong while Mr. Tayyab Aijaz represented Roshan Packages.
The main objective of this MOU was to establish a 1200 acre green industrial estate near Lahore. This estate will house up to a hundred industrial units. PBIT will facilitate in identification of land; Shandong and Roshan Packages will invest all capital. Major Chinese businesses will be encouraged to set up their units here.
Roshan Packages in partnership with Shandong is all set to establish an eco-friendly paper mill with 40 million USD initial investment as soon as the land is identified.
PBIT CEO, Ms, Amena Cheema, “Green projects need to be encouraged and PBIT will provide all the possible facilitation to both the parties to set up an environment friendly project”.
The idea of developing an eco-friendly industrial estate was conceived by PBIT and was proposed to Shandong back in May 2015. This agreement is a follow up of the MOU signed back in May.
Both parties also agreed to provide all facilitation to promote trade between China and Punjab, to generate investment leads and to organize trade fairs and seminars to bring together investors and businesses from both sides.
Such partnerships and endeavors are taking Punjab into a new era of creativity and growth. {Credit:PBIT}.
Balochistan the coasts of #Gawadar and #Ormara are absolutely stunning beauty & of great potential for #PAKISTAN.
A memorandum of understanding was signed by Punjab Board of Investment and Trade, Shandong Yulong Real Estate Group and Roshan Packages PVT LTD here in Lahore.
Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Amena Cheema was representing PBIT, Mr. Sunato was representing Shandong Yulong while Mr. Tayyab Aijaz represented Roshan Packages.
The main objective of this MOU was to establish a 1200 acre green industrial estate near Lahore. This estate will house up to a hundred industrial units. PBIT will facilitate in identification of land; Shandong and Roshan Packages will invest all capital. Major Chinese businesses will be encouraged to set up their units here.
Roshan Packages in partnership with Shandong is all set to establish an eco-friendly paper mill with 40 million USD initial investment as soon as the land is identified.
PBIT CEO, Ms, Amena Cheema, “Green projects need to be encouraged and PBIT will provide all the possible facilitation to both the parties to set up an environment friendly project”.
The idea of developing an eco-friendly industrial estate was conceived by PBIT and was proposed to Shandong back in May 2015. This agreement is a follow up of the MOU signed back in May.
Both parties also agreed to provide all facilitation to promote trade between China and Punjab, to generate investment leads and to organize trade fairs and seminars to bring together investors and businesses from both sides.
Such partnerships and endeavors are taking Punjab into a new era of creativity and growth. {Credit:PBIT}.
Balochistan the coasts of #Gawadar and #Ormara are absolutely stunning beauty & of great potential for #PAKISTAN.
Muhammad Omar
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Acquisition Of Land For Diamer-Bhasha Dam Before June This Year.
ISLAMABAD: The government is expecting to complete acquisition of land for the multi-billion-dollar Diamer-Bhasha dam before June this year.
A senior official told Dawn that Rs10 billion had been allocated under the current fiscal year’s Public Sector Development Programme and the amount had been released to the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to complete the process of land acquisition for the storage-cum-power generation project.
He said Wapda had transferred Rs10bn to the deputy commissioners of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to be paid to the people who would be displaced from the required land.
The official said that most of the land needed for the project had already been acquired and land titles transferred/registered. The remaining work is expected to be taken over in two to three months.
He said land acquisition was the first requirement for raising local and international financing for the $14bn project. About 37,500 acres has to be acquired, including about 18,500 acres of private land. All paper work has been completed to formally seek financing from international agencies and bilateral lenders.
Multilateral institutions, primarily the Asian Development Bank, have advised the government to adopt a professional approach for building the big dam which no single institution, country or group can finance given its mammoth funding requirements and the risks involved.
About 80 per cent of the required financing — more than $10bn (Rs1.1 trillion) — will have to be raised through external sources and the remaining through domestic arrangements. While a part of the external financing can be arranged by a few institutional lenders, the major financing will have to be received from the international capital market as a specific infrastructure bond in the name of Diamer-Bhasha Dam Company (DBDC) — a special purpose vehicle.
The government has been soft-marketing the project in the United States, Europe and the Middle East for two years. This will be the largest water sector project to be undertaken in more than 40 years.
Based on market and domestic circumstances, the DBDC will be offered to international investors early next fiscal year with a targeted completion date of June 2024. To meet the deadline, the DBDC will be built on the pattern of the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project through transfer of cost of land of the dam and operating assets of 1,450MW Ghazi Barotha hydropower project (GBHP).
After clearance by the Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet, a special request will be sent to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for amendments to the generation licence of Wapda and for issuance of a separate generation licence to the DBDC for a fresh power purchase agreement with the National Transmission and Dispatch Company.
GBHP’s revenue surplus of about Rs9bn per annum and net worth of about $500 million is not sufficient to meet local financing requirements.
Therefore, a special cess on the pattern of Neelum-Jhelum surcharge on electricity tariff will be imposed on GBHP’s tariff which can range between Rs10 and Rs15 per unit to make the DBDC project attractive for investors.
There is a move to increase GBHP’s tariff to Rs23 per unit by loading on the project cost of DBDC because a combination of operation and development activities will not be attractive for short-term investors.
The approach is being adopted to sidestep the existing lengthy mechanism of involving private investors in bidding for such a mega infrastructure, involving many approvals, tariff setting and construction. Instead, the project development will be fast-tracked through public-private partnership during its execution by completing an updated feasibility study, environmental impact assessment and land acquisition.
An international panel of experts would be set up for selection of bidders through international competitive bidding, and the predetermined upfront tariff and PPA period and completion deadline will be set in the expression of interest.
The official estimate put return on equity at 17pc based on a 30-year average tariff of about Rs7.75 per unit.
Chinese Business Delegation Visiting Lahore had assured Special Economic Zones in Punjab likewise in China.
China’s CSCEC to build $2.9bn motorway in Pakistan as part of planned ‘corridor’
In what is being called a “breakthrough” in China’s One Belt One Road strategy, state-owned China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) has been awarded the contract to build a major new motorway in Pakistan.
The $2.89bn engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract sees CSCEC building a 392-km motorway between Sukkur in Sindh province north to Multan in the Punjab region.
“It will greatly improve local transport conditions of the most populous and developed regions in Pakistan, promote local economic development and play a positive role in the interconnection between China and Pakistan”– CSCEC
The stretch will eventually become part of the much longer Karachi-to-Peshawar motorway, a key part of the planned China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“The successful signing of the contract signifies the official launching of the biggest infrastructure project in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and an important and substantial breakthrough of CSCEC in following national strategy of ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative,” CSCEC said in announcing the contract on 22 December.
Under the contract, CSCEC will build a bi-directional, six-lane motorway with a design speed of 120km/h.
CSCEC said it will build the road in 36 months.
“Upon its completion,” CSCEC said, “it will greatly improve local transport conditions of the most populous and developed regions in Pakistan, promote local economic development and play a positive role in the interconnection between China and Pakistan.”
The CPEC mega-scheme is being promoted as a rail and road network, oil and gas pipelines, fibre optic cables and a string of power stations running from northwest China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region through Pakistan to Gwadar, a strategic port on the Arabian Sea.
In April 2015 Chinese President Xi Jinping used his first visit to Pakistan to oversee the signing of more than 50 Deals covering infrastructure, energy, and other areas relating CPEC, which has been valued at $46bn.
KAROT HYDROPOWER PROJECT STARTED IN PAKISTAN.
KAROT Hydropower Project is the 4th of the 5 cascade hydropower stations planned on Jhelum River in Pakistan, its upstream is the Azad Pattan HPP, and its downstream is the Mangla HPP. The Project is a single power generation task hydropower complex, with reservoir storage of 164.50 million m3. Its installed capacity is 720MW (4×180MW), average annual electricity output is 3436 GW•h.
ISLAMABAD: The government is expecting to complete acquisition of land for the multi-billion-dollar Diamer-Bhasha dam before June this year.
A senior official told Dawn that Rs10 billion had been allocated under the current fiscal year’s Public Sector Development Programme and the amount had been released to the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to complete the process of land acquisition for the storage-cum-power generation project.
He said Wapda had transferred Rs10bn to the deputy commissioners of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to be paid to the people who would be displaced from the required land.
The official said that most of the land needed for the project had already been acquired and land titles transferred/registered. The remaining work is expected to be taken over in two to three months.
He said land acquisition was the first requirement for raising local and international financing for the $14bn project. About 37,500 acres has to be acquired, including about 18,500 acres of private land. All paper work has been completed to formally seek financing from international agencies and bilateral lenders.
Multilateral institutions, primarily the Asian Development Bank, have advised the government to adopt a professional approach for building the big dam which no single institution, country or group can finance given its mammoth funding requirements and the risks involved.
About 80 per cent of the required financing — more than $10bn (Rs1.1 trillion) — will have to be raised through external sources and the remaining through domestic arrangements. While a part of the external financing can be arranged by a few institutional lenders, the major financing will have to be received from the international capital market as a specific infrastructure bond in the name of Diamer-Bhasha Dam Company (DBDC) — a special purpose vehicle.
The government has been soft-marketing the project in the United States, Europe and the Middle East for two years. This will be the largest water sector project to be undertaken in more than 40 years.
Based on market and domestic circumstances, the DBDC will be offered to international investors early next fiscal year with a targeted completion date of June 2024. To meet the deadline, the DBDC will be built on the pattern of the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project through transfer of cost of land of the dam and operating assets of 1,450MW Ghazi Barotha hydropower project (GBHP).
After clearance by the Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet, a special request will be sent to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for amendments to the generation licence of Wapda and for issuance of a separate generation licence to the DBDC for a fresh power purchase agreement with the National Transmission and Dispatch Company.
GBHP’s revenue surplus of about Rs9bn per annum and net worth of about $500 million is not sufficient to meet local financing requirements.
Therefore, a special cess on the pattern of Neelum-Jhelum surcharge on electricity tariff will be imposed on GBHP’s tariff which can range between Rs10 and Rs15 per unit to make the DBDC project attractive for investors.
There is a move to increase GBHP’s tariff to Rs23 per unit by loading on the project cost of DBDC because a combination of operation and development activities will not be attractive for short-term investors.
The approach is being adopted to sidestep the existing lengthy mechanism of involving private investors in bidding for such a mega infrastructure, involving many approvals, tariff setting and construction. Instead, the project development will be fast-tracked through public-private partnership during its execution by completing an updated feasibility study, environmental impact assessment and land acquisition.
An international panel of experts would be set up for selection of bidders through international competitive bidding, and the predetermined upfront tariff and PPA period and completion deadline will be set in the expression of interest.
The official estimate put return on equity at 17pc based on a 30-year average tariff of about Rs7.75 per unit.
Chinese Business Delegation Visiting Lahore had assured Special Economic Zones in Punjab likewise in China.
China’s CSCEC to build $2.9bn motorway in Pakistan as part of planned ‘corridor’
In what is being called a “breakthrough” in China’s One Belt One Road strategy, state-owned China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) has been awarded the contract to build a major new motorway in Pakistan.
The $2.89bn engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract sees CSCEC building a 392-km motorway between Sukkur in Sindh province north to Multan in the Punjab region.
“It will greatly improve local transport conditions of the most populous and developed regions in Pakistan, promote local economic development and play a positive role in the interconnection between China and Pakistan”– CSCEC
The stretch will eventually become part of the much longer Karachi-to-Peshawar motorway, a key part of the planned China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“The successful signing of the contract signifies the official launching of the biggest infrastructure project in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and an important and substantial breakthrough of CSCEC in following national strategy of ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative,” CSCEC said in announcing the contract on 22 December.
Under the contract, CSCEC will build a bi-directional, six-lane motorway with a design speed of 120km/h.
CSCEC said it will build the road in 36 months.
“Upon its completion,” CSCEC said, “it will greatly improve local transport conditions of the most populous and developed regions in Pakistan, promote local economic development and play a positive role in the interconnection between China and Pakistan.”
The CPEC mega-scheme is being promoted as a rail and road network, oil and gas pipelines, fibre optic cables and a string of power stations running from northwest China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region through Pakistan to Gwadar, a strategic port on the Arabian Sea.
In April 2015 Chinese President Xi Jinping used his first visit to Pakistan to oversee the signing of more than 50 Deals covering infrastructure, energy, and other areas relating CPEC, which has been valued at $46bn.
KAROT HYDROPOWER PROJECT STARTED IN PAKISTAN.
KAROT Hydropower Project is the 4th of the 5 cascade hydropower stations planned on Jhelum River in Pakistan, its upstream is the Azad Pattan HPP, and its downstream is the Mangla HPP. The Project is a single power generation task hydropower complex, with reservoir storage of 164.50 million m3. Its installed capacity is 720MW (4×180MW), average annual electricity output is 3436 GW•h.
