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China’s security concerns: Jurisdiction issues hold up CPEC force
By Shahbaz Rana
Published: October 18, 2016
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PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: Despite Chinese concerns over delay in deployment of a Special Security Division (SSD) for their protection, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has yet to convene a meeting of the National Steering Committee of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to resolve issues obstructing this deployment.

Instead, the government has left this all-crucial matter on bureaucrats to decide on, said sources in the Ministry of Planning. The Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal discussed the issue of non-deployment of the security forces again on Monday during a CPEC projects review committee meeting.

China calls for consensus on CPEC

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“The meeting was informed by the Ministry of Interior that terms of reference (TORs) of special security force will be finalised within a week,” said a handout issued after the review committee meeting.

The matter is getting delayed for the last many months and every time a new deadline is given for the resolution of the issue. Despite raising a strong division at a cost of Rs21.5 billion for the protection of Chinese working on the $46 billion CPEC projects, the force has not been deployed due to concerns of provinces over its jurisdiction and powers.

The sources said Secretary to PM, Fuwad Hasan Fuwad, last week held a meeting with provincial chief secretaries to finalise the ToRs for the SSD deployment. However, they said, the provinces were reluctant to give major role to the military.

CPEC: Chinese work ethic and its implication for Pakistan

Many deadlines have passed but the matter remains unresolved amid renewed challenges to the CPEC from regional powers that see the geo-economic strategic initiative as a threat to their designs.

The PM’s spokesman Dr Mussadaq Malik was not available for comments.

“Since it was an administrative issue, therefore, there was no need to call a National Steering Committee meeting to resolve it,” Ahsan Iqbal said while talking to The Express Tribune on Monday. He said the PM’s secretary did hold a meeting with provincial chief secretaries and reached to a conclusion.

The minister said the National Steering Committee meeting would be requested before the next Pakistan-China Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting, which is scheduled for end of November.

Pakistan allays China’s concern over CPEC security plan

“The Chinese, working on CPEC, have their own security but we feel that as the CPEC related activities accelerate there is a need to further strengthen their security,” said the National Highway Authority (NHA) spokesperson Kashif Zaman. The NHA is executing the CPEC road infrastructure projects.

One of the main Chinese concerns was the delay in the deployment of the SSD. An official handout of the planning ministry stated that Ahsan Iqbal also directed to accelerate the construction work on the CPEC projects to ensure their completion in time.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2016.
 
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CPEC is for whole Pakistan with multiple routes: Chinese Ambassador


ISLAMABAD, Oct 16 (APP): China’s ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong Sunday said the passage going through western part of Pakistan to Gwadar is definitely part of China Pakistan-Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Speaking at an event at Pak-China Friendship Centre here to welcome participants of a car rally arriving from Chinese region of Ningxia, he said CPEC is for Pakistan as a whole with multiple passages and it brings benefits to all Pakistani people.

“As we see it, all the routes lead to development and prosperity. Under the Belt and Road Initiatives, CPEC will make its contribution to reviving the Silk Road Spirit,” he added.

He said in 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiatives reviving the great Silk Road Spirit.

Sun Weidong said as the major and pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative, China Pakistan Economic Corridor has entered into full implementation with remarkable progress.

“Sixteen early harvest projects are under consideration, with total investment of 13.6 billion USD and tens of thousands of new jobs have been created for local people.”

He said connectivity is made for facilitating people to people exchange.

He said since more than 2000 years ago, China and Pakistan have been connected through the great Silk Road.

Along this road, businessmen and envoys travelled through mountains and deserts, trading specialties and learning exotic cultures. One of the most prominent travellers was Xuanzang who lived in the 7th century.

From Xian, then capital of China, he travelled 80,000 kilometers to South Asia, he told.

The envoy said Xuanzang lived in Taxila for three years, studied language and classics and brought precious Buddhist scriptures back from there.

The Silk Road has brought well being and prosperity for the people along the route, he said adding by promoting exchanges among ethic groups, cultures and religions, the Silk Road advanced civilizations, and cultivated the Silk Road spirit.

He explained that there were three key points of the great Silk Road spirit.

“First, openness. Openness means confidence. Openness creates vitality. Openness brings progress. And only by openness we can achieve prosperity. We will always open our doors to the outside world. Secondly, inclusiveness and mutual learning. Along the Silk Road all cultures are equal. We respect each other, appreciate each other and learn from each other.”

He said with openness they jointly create a splendid story and Ningxia is a best example of mutual learning and inclusiveness.

“It is an inland province with a pilot economic zone. It is renowned as a beautiful piece of land where all ethnic groups live harmoniously.”

Thirdly, win win cooperation. The ancient Silk Road is now transforming into connectivity, industrial cooperation, trade and finance, and flow of information, he added.

The ambassador said economies along this road are complementary with huge potential for cooperation. “By promoting win win cooperation, we will build an avenue towards joint development and shared destiny.”

He said this year marks the 65th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties and events like car rally can further the win-win cooperation, and make the Silk Road spirit shine again in the new era.

He said the participants of the rally travelled more than 7000 km, all the way from Ningxia and they are the real advocates of the great Silk Road spirit.

“You are the envoys of the China-Pakistan friendship. Thank you for bringing our peoples hearts closer together,” he told the participants.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Governor of Ningxia Hui, Wang Heshan said Pakistan and China have increased cooperation in diverse fields and supported each other through good and hard times.

He said Pakistan and China are friends, partners, brothers and good neighbours.

He told about Ningxia region, which is a place of great natural beauty, time honored traditions and must see tourist destination for travellers from across the world.
 
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Sost Dry Port leased to National Logistic Cell (NLC) for 20 years
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With inputs by Abdul Rehman Bukhari

Gilgit: The Sost Dry Port has been leased to the National Logistic Cell for a period of 20 years. A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed between Zafar Iqbal, Chairman of the Sost Port Trust and Brigadier Syed Kausar Hussain Shah, NLC’s Operations Director. The lease can be revised after mutual agreement after 20 years.

Zafar Iqbal told Pamir Times that the decision of handing the port over to the NLC has been taken after consultation with members of the Port Trust. He said that the shareholders were not satisfied with the performance of the Chinese partners who were running the port since its inception. He added that NLC will hopefully protect the rights of the shareholders and make the region’s only dry port a robust center of trade and commerce.

According to the MoU, NLC, which is a part of the Pakistan Army, will expand the Sost Dry Port and also modernize it on international standards, to make it suitable for handling large amounts of CPEC related cargo.

The NLC will prefer locals for job at the Dry Ports, and the jobs of the already employed locals will be protected.

Earlier today, GB Chief Court ordered the liquidation of China-Pakistan Joint Venture Sost Dry Port (Ltd.) Company, while deciding a case filed by the Sost Port Trust. The Court said that the Sino Trans Company’s contract with the Port Trust has come to an end, and that it has also failed to submit statuary reports, and hold annual general body meetings, as required under the law. Therefore the company’s partnership in the Dry Port will come to an end, and the China-Pakistan Joint Venture Sost Dry Port (Ltd.) will be liquidated.

The court also appointed two lawyers to facilitate the liquidation process.

http://pamirtimes.net/2016/10/25/sost-dry-port-leased-to-national-logistic-cell-nlc-for-20-years/
 
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Karachi- Peshawar 1872 km track upgradation starts


ISLAMABAD, Oct 23 (APP): Preliminary work on the upgradation of 1872 km long Karachi-Peshawar railway track has been started under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to Radio Pakistan, Pakistan Railway said that a team of twelve engineers have arrived in Peshawar to make design of the railway track.

The design of the project will be completed within two months and practical work on the up gradation of the railway track will be launched next year.

The sources said Lahore-Peshawar railway track will also be doubled.
 
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First CPEC-specific shipment to arrive in mid-November

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all necessary arrangements including the provision of security to the shipment entering Pakistan. The Chinese containers will enter through the Sost border and then be shipped via Gwadar Port. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The first shipment under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will enter Pakistan in November through the Sost border in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is due to close this year.

Both China and Pakistan’s governments have finalised arrangements to formally kick off trade activity under the umbrella of CPEC, starting specific import of goods through the new route under the $45-billion project.

A senior official said that the government has made all necessary arrangements including the provision of security to the shipment entering Pakistan. The Chinese containers will enter through the Sost border and then be shipped via Gwadar Port, said the official.

“It is a good omen that we are going to launch the flagship programme by receiving containers from China next month, which is a sign of formal start of exports via Gwadar port,” said the official.

The shipment will enter Pakistan in mid-November and would be followed by another one if the Sost border remains open with no heavy snowfall till the mid of December, said the official.

However, the official said the total number of containers in the inaugural shipment was unknown.

Meanwhile, experts believed that the development is a sign of success for both governments towards formally materialising the project despite several internal and external challenges.

China and Pakistan signed the multi-billion dollar CPEC project during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in April 2015, where as many as 52 MoUs were signed containing infrastructure and power projects in addition to development of sea ports, airports and establishment of economic zones.

Ship arrives at Gwadar Port

Meanwhile, in an another development marking the operational success of the Gwadar Port and Free Zone, MV Chang Hang Han Hai, carrying construction materials and other equipment, berthed at Gwadar Port on Friday.

The ship coming from Luojing and Yangzhou ports of China docked at the port filled with various construction materials and other equipment including bulldozer trucks, dumpers, cranes, rollers, generators, electric cables, pipes and other accessories. These will be used for construction and development of the initial area of Gwadar Port Free Zone. The Free Zone is being developed by China overseas Ports Holding Company Limited (COPHC).

The port has been operational since March, 2008; 176 ships loaded with wheat and urea have been handled and 6.330 million tons of cargo has been discharged and transported to the country.

Container business has also started from Gwadar Port; initially limited export of local fish was shipped through COSCO vessels twice a month.

The Chinese port operator, COPHC, has been working on increasing the number of ships and this is the second ship arriving at Gwadar Port this month. Earlier, MV Tian FU brought machinery and heavy construction material for the initial area of Free Zone.
 
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"FIRST PILOT PROJECT OF CPEC TRADE SHIPMENT 100 TRUCKS TO ARRIVE IN PAKISTAN FOR GWADAR PORT
CPEC Ceremony at Pak-China Sost Port."


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Great pic! I wonder how long the journey from the dry port or border to Gwadar was for these trucks... ?
 
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‘CPEC will bring prosperity to Mirpur’

By APP
Published: November 9, 2016

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MIRPUR: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan said on Tuesday that the multibillion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would open vistas of unprecedented economic progress and prosperity for AJK.

“Being the biggest industrial and business city [of the region], Mirpur will have to perform a significant role in the light of CPEC,” Khan said while addressing a news conference at the PWD State Guesthouse on his first official visit to the city after assuming office as president.

China has so far poured $14b into CPEC projects

He underlined that in addition to being a business hub, Mirpur was also a centre of ancient Kashmiri culture, heritage and literature. Khan added that the area had also produced famous personalities of international repute as well.

The president said AJK would be made economically self-sufficient by utilising natural resources available in the region. In this regard, he disclosed that hydel power generation projects and tourism industry would be encouraged through public-private partnerships.

Khan urged the civil society of AJK to do what they can to help their ailing brethren in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their just, principled and indigenous struggle for freedom of the homeland from the Indian yoke.

CPEC to usher in era of prosperity, says CM

To a question about the much-awaited grant of representation for Mirpur district in the AJK cabinet, he said that the tradition of representation to all areas of AJK in the state cabinet under the spirit of the parliamentary democratic government would be maintained in letter and spirit.

He added that once Minister Raja Farooq Haider returns from his visit to Brussels, Mirpur district would be given due representation in the AJK cabinet.
 
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Met with CM Pervez Khattak and his cabinet members in Peshawar to discuss CPEC. Shared with him details of implementation on all 11 points on which we agreed on 11 May 2016 in Islamabad to redress KP's reservations about CPEC. Explained that there was no default on federal government on any of the points. We must avoid controversies on this national project which involves our closest friend China. Also clarified that court case against CPEC will hurt KP more as foreign investors will be discouraged from investment in KP Because litigation is considered very unfriendly by foreign investors. There was good and positive discussion.

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https://www.facebook.com/ahsaniqbal.pk/posts/10153913306991078

Thumsup to Ahsan Iqbal for his sincerity and hardwork.
 
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14991880_10153913291636078_2208928568662135938_n.jpg

Met with CM Pervez Khattak and his cabinet members in Peshawar to discuss CPEC. Shared with him details of implementation on all 11 points on which we agreed on 11 May 2016 in Islamabad to redress KP's reservations about CPEC. Explained that there was no default on federal government on any of the points. We must avoid controversies on this national project which involves our closest friend China. Also clarified that court case against CPEC will hurt KP more as foreign investors will be discouraged from investment in KP Because litigation is considered very unfriendly by foreign investors. There was good and positive discussion.

15032232_10153913291671078_8161256894695687675_n.jpg


https://www.facebook.com/ahsaniqbal.pk/posts/10153913306991078

Thumsup to Ahsan Iqbal for his sincerity and hardwork.

Only see one file on the table ... is that how a Federal Minister prepares for a meet with a Chief Minister of a province on a national project?
 
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