Muhammad Omar
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CPEC a lifetime opportunity for Pakistan to improve underprivileged areas: army chief
CPEC’S RAIL TRACK UPGRADATION TO BEGIN WITHIN 6 MONTHS: SAAD
Multan—Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq said on Friday that work on rail track upgradation in the country under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would begin within next six months from Multan. Addressing a gathering of industrialists, the Railways Minister termed the CPEC as a game changing project to usher in a new era of prosperity in the country.
He said Multan and surroundings were plain areas and lie in the middle and hence beginning rail track up gradation from here would be easy. Saad Rafiq said rail track would be upgraded from Karachi to Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and up to Torkham. He said with the availability of upgraded modern track, trains would be operating at a high speed of 160 kilometres per hour.
Saad Rafiq announced that e-ticketing system would be operational in Railways soon that would enable people book seats from their home and make payments through fast money transfer facilities already available in the country. He said 80 per cent work on e-ticketing system had been completed and once operational it would resolve the problem of tickets sale through black marketing once and for all.
He said since the day he took over as Railways minister three year back, he encountered new problem every day. But, he added, he kept on moving forward while solving problems. The minister said Railways earnings would be around Rs 35 billion coming June 2016 which was just over Rs 18 billion when he took over the charge as minister.
He said freight trains’ earning was only Rs 1.8 billion which the Railways was projected to elevate to Rs 12 billion in June 2016. He said that provinces had the Railways land but recently KPK had transfered land to Railways and efforts would be made to get Railways land in other provinces too.
He said land record of Railways was undergoing computerization process. According to record available, Railways land measure around 167,000 acres. However, another 15000 acre land has been detected during the process of computerization of land record of Railways. Saad said double track had been laid between Lahore and Karachi, however, work on double track from La-hore to Peshawar was yet to be completed.
He said 11 railway stations were being upgraded and renovated on modern lines under the annual development plan while another 31 railway stations’ renovation including the one in Multan would be taken up in the second phase. He said air conditioned coaches would be attached to Multan-Rawalpindi Meher Express. He said that he was determined to upgrade rest of the trains but added that it would take at least three years to complete this task.
He said there was need for introduction of a fast train to run from Multan to Islamabad and a high level meet-ing would be held within next few days to discuss the matter. He said Railways was interested in running a cargo train from Karachi to Multan for transportation of business goods but business community of this area did not took interest in the initiative despite the fact that Railways was offering freight fare much below what truck containers charge and would ensure transpirtation in shortest possible time.
He said that Musa Pak train was running in losses and that is why a new train, Multan Express, was inaugu-rated today that would run from Multan to Lahore to compensate for losses incurred by Musa Pak train. He, however, added that this train was being introduced for 90 days with upgraded facilities like Wifi and oth-ers. Its financial performance would be reviewed after three months.—APP
Joint production in economic zones : Ahsan Iqbal proposes China-Pakistan business platform
ISLAMABAD: Planning, Development and Reform Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Friday proposed China-Pakistan business platform for joint production in economic zones under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He also proposed for working out a mechanism for training of Pakistani human resource in Shandong province to learn about setting up and management of economic zones in Pakistan.
The minister also proposed to establish linkages between universities in Shandong province and Pakistan for exchange of faculty and students as part of people-to-people contact and suggested for alignment of Pakistan exportable products with Chinese import needs to benefit the Pakistani manufacturers and increase trade volume with China.
He put forward these proposals in a meeting with Shandong Province of China Vice Governor Xia Gang, leading a high level delegation.
Ahsan Iqbal said that Shandong is most developed and industrialised province of China. There are enormous opportunities for Pakistan and Shandong province to collaborate in textile, energy, engineering and agro-based industry, he added.
He proposed that Shandong province could benefit at large from the lower cost labour in Pakistan, relocating its labour-intensive industries to make their products more competitive.
He said that human resource development is a critical area wherein Pakistan might seek assistance from Shandong province by utilising its trained human resource. The minister also called for cooperation in agriculture sector to increase agricultural products and products in Pakistan.
Ashan Iqbal stated that Pakistan could also benefit from Shandong experiences in soil and water conservation, which is critical to Pakistan. Talking about the provision of clean water, the minister urged that Pakistan and Shandong could also join hands to purify the drinking water in the rural areas of Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan needs export-led growth by re-orienting the production models, which could be done by learning from the experiences and expertise of Shandong province. He also proposed holding of business conferences in Pakistan and Shandong, attracting the businessmen from both sides to enhance business-to-business contacts by putting in place an institutional framework.
The minister said that Pakistan greatly values its friendship with China who came to invest in Pakistan at critical juncture of the country's history. "CPEC raised investment profile of Pakistan in the world by making it safe haven for billions of Chinese investment, he added.
He said that CPEC is fusion of visions of leadership of both countries and a win-win proposition for China and Pakistan, as it would provide China the safest and shortest land route to trade with the world and would help Pakistan to become regional trading and industrialised hub through enhanced economic integration.
Ahsan Iqbal hoped that visit of the vice governor would enhance the future cooperation and collaboration between Pakistan and Shandong to further strengthen the bilateral ties between China and Pakistan.
Shandong Vice Governor Xia Gang said that his province looks forward to work with Pakistan in various areas and assured to consider proposals of the Planning and Development minister for furthering the cooperation in economic field between Pakistan and Shandong
GWADAR PORT TO OPEN NEW VISTAS OF PROSPERITY: ASIF
Sialkot—Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that government was utilizing all available resources for improving the means of communication across the country.
Talking to APP at Muslim League House here on Sunday he said the basic concept to improve means of communication was to bringing far-off and neglected areas at equal par with the developed parts of the country. The linking remote areas with developed areas will bring revolutionary changes in life style and open new era of development and prosperity he added.
The minister said, the mega project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would play instrumental role in bringing revolutionary change and usher of economic stability and prosperity not only in Pakistan but also in the region.
Khawaja Asif was of the opinion that Gwadar port will play a dominating role in ensuring drastic economic stability and overall development of the country.
He said that the development work on Sialkot-Lahore motorway will be undertaken in near future adding that motorway project will help in linking remote areas along with its track and reduced the distance between Sialkot-Lahore.
Asif disclosed that development work on setting up Engineering Centre of Excellence in Head Marala for providing higher skilled development education and on a ring road will be carried out in near future.
Meanwhile, Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif Sunday demanded for a forensic audit of the funds raised by Imran Khan Foundation (IKF) for rehabilitation of flood victims in 2010.
Talking to a private TV channel, the minister said it was the right of the people to know details of the funds collected in the name of flood victims.
He said the audit should reveal to the people as how much amount had been collected and where it had been spent, besides the balanced amount.
He said the funds had been collected for reconstruction of destroyed houses of the flood victims, but “where these houses have been built,” he questioned the PTI leadership.
Expressing his doubt, the minister asked whether the raised amount had been invested in offshore business.—APP
CPEC’S RAIL TRACK UPGRADATION TO BEGIN WITHIN 6 MONTHS: SAAD
Multan—Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq said on Friday that work on rail track upgradation in the country under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would begin within next six months from Multan. Addressing a gathering of industrialists, the Railways Minister termed the CPEC as a game changing project to usher in a new era of prosperity in the country.
He said Multan and surroundings were plain areas and lie in the middle and hence beginning rail track up gradation from here would be easy. Saad Rafiq said rail track would be upgraded from Karachi to Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and up to Torkham. He said with the availability of upgraded modern track, trains would be operating at a high speed of 160 kilometres per hour.
Saad Rafiq announced that e-ticketing system would be operational in Railways soon that would enable people book seats from their home and make payments through fast money transfer facilities already available in the country. He said 80 per cent work on e-ticketing system had been completed and once operational it would resolve the problem of tickets sale through black marketing once and for all.
He said since the day he took over as Railways minister three year back, he encountered new problem every day. But, he added, he kept on moving forward while solving problems. The minister said Railways earnings would be around Rs 35 billion coming June 2016 which was just over Rs 18 billion when he took over the charge as minister.
He said freight trains’ earning was only Rs 1.8 billion which the Railways was projected to elevate to Rs 12 billion in June 2016. He said that provinces had the Railways land but recently KPK had transfered land to Railways and efforts would be made to get Railways land in other provinces too.
He said land record of Railways was undergoing computerization process. According to record available, Railways land measure around 167,000 acres. However, another 15000 acre land has been detected during the process of computerization of land record of Railways. Saad said double track had been laid between Lahore and Karachi, however, work on double track from La-hore to Peshawar was yet to be completed.
He said 11 railway stations were being upgraded and renovated on modern lines under the annual development plan while another 31 railway stations’ renovation including the one in Multan would be taken up in the second phase. He said air conditioned coaches would be attached to Multan-Rawalpindi Meher Express. He said that he was determined to upgrade rest of the trains but added that it would take at least three years to complete this task.
He said there was need for introduction of a fast train to run from Multan to Islamabad and a high level meet-ing would be held within next few days to discuss the matter. He said Railways was interested in running a cargo train from Karachi to Multan for transportation of business goods but business community of this area did not took interest in the initiative despite the fact that Railways was offering freight fare much below what truck containers charge and would ensure transpirtation in shortest possible time.
He said that Musa Pak train was running in losses and that is why a new train, Multan Express, was inaugu-rated today that would run from Multan to Lahore to compensate for losses incurred by Musa Pak train. He, however, added that this train was being introduced for 90 days with upgraded facilities like Wifi and oth-ers. Its financial performance would be reviewed after three months.—APP
Joint production in economic zones : Ahsan Iqbal proposes China-Pakistan business platform
ISLAMABAD: Planning, Development and Reform Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Friday proposed China-Pakistan business platform for joint production in economic zones under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He also proposed for working out a mechanism for training of Pakistani human resource in Shandong province to learn about setting up and management of economic zones in Pakistan.
The minister also proposed to establish linkages between universities in Shandong province and Pakistan for exchange of faculty and students as part of people-to-people contact and suggested for alignment of Pakistan exportable products with Chinese import needs to benefit the Pakistani manufacturers and increase trade volume with China.
He put forward these proposals in a meeting with Shandong Province of China Vice Governor Xia Gang, leading a high level delegation.
Ahsan Iqbal said that Shandong is most developed and industrialised province of China. There are enormous opportunities for Pakistan and Shandong province to collaborate in textile, energy, engineering and agro-based industry, he added.
He proposed that Shandong province could benefit at large from the lower cost labour in Pakistan, relocating its labour-intensive industries to make their products more competitive.
He said that human resource development is a critical area wherein Pakistan might seek assistance from Shandong province by utilising its trained human resource. The minister also called for cooperation in agriculture sector to increase agricultural products and products in Pakistan.
Ashan Iqbal stated that Pakistan could also benefit from Shandong experiences in soil and water conservation, which is critical to Pakistan. Talking about the provision of clean water, the minister urged that Pakistan and Shandong could also join hands to purify the drinking water in the rural areas of Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan needs export-led growth by re-orienting the production models, which could be done by learning from the experiences and expertise of Shandong province. He also proposed holding of business conferences in Pakistan and Shandong, attracting the businessmen from both sides to enhance business-to-business contacts by putting in place an institutional framework.
The minister said that Pakistan greatly values its friendship with China who came to invest in Pakistan at critical juncture of the country's history. "CPEC raised investment profile of Pakistan in the world by making it safe haven for billions of Chinese investment, he added.
He said that CPEC is fusion of visions of leadership of both countries and a win-win proposition for China and Pakistan, as it would provide China the safest and shortest land route to trade with the world and would help Pakistan to become regional trading and industrialised hub through enhanced economic integration.
Ahsan Iqbal hoped that visit of the vice governor would enhance the future cooperation and collaboration between Pakistan and Shandong to further strengthen the bilateral ties between China and Pakistan.
Shandong Vice Governor Xia Gang said that his province looks forward to work with Pakistan in various areas and assured to consider proposals of the Planning and Development minister for furthering the cooperation in economic field between Pakistan and Shandong
GWADAR PORT TO OPEN NEW VISTAS OF PROSPERITY: ASIF
Sialkot—Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that government was utilizing all available resources for improving the means of communication across the country.
Talking to APP at Muslim League House here on Sunday he said the basic concept to improve means of communication was to bringing far-off and neglected areas at equal par with the developed parts of the country. The linking remote areas with developed areas will bring revolutionary changes in life style and open new era of development and prosperity he added.
The minister said, the mega project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would play instrumental role in bringing revolutionary change and usher of economic stability and prosperity not only in Pakistan but also in the region.
Khawaja Asif was of the opinion that Gwadar port will play a dominating role in ensuring drastic economic stability and overall development of the country.
He said that the development work on Sialkot-Lahore motorway will be undertaken in near future adding that motorway project will help in linking remote areas along with its track and reduced the distance between Sialkot-Lahore.
Asif disclosed that development work on setting up Engineering Centre of Excellence in Head Marala for providing higher skilled development education and on a ring road will be carried out in near future.
Meanwhile, Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif Sunday demanded for a forensic audit of the funds raised by Imran Khan Foundation (IKF) for rehabilitation of flood victims in 2010.
Talking to a private TV channel, the minister said it was the right of the people to know details of the funds collected in the name of flood victims.
He said the audit should reveal to the people as how much amount had been collected and where it had been spent, besides the balanced amount.
He said the funds had been collected for reconstruction of destroyed houses of the flood victims, but “where these houses have been built,” he questioned the PTI leadership.
Expressing his doubt, the minister asked whether the raised amount had been invested in offshore business.—APP