CPEC and other countries

[ghazi52]

CPEC: Progress and prospects

March 25, 2020




TRANSPORT and economic activities are found to be intricately connected to each other. An economic corridor not only includes transport of goods and services by providing paths, gates for the developing countries but also stimulate the social and economic development in the surrounding areas of the routes of an economic corridor. The major focus areas of different economic corridors under consideration include transport, human resource development, energy, telecommunication, tourism, agriculture, environment and trade in a region. The economic corridor’s approach has been executed in various regions of the world including Europe & America to promote regional connectivity and trade from the past decades. The most successful examples of economic corridors are found in Asia and Africa, which are aided by ADB and African Development Bank (ADB).

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched in 2013 and its fast implementation started in April 2015 during the visit of the Chinese President, Mr. Xi Jinping in Islamabad, Pakistan. CPEC is a long-term well-grounded project to develop a strong collaboration between the two neighbouring countries of Pakistan & China for the mutual benefits of China, Central, West, & South Asia. CPEC initially focused on energy and communication infrastructure projects. These projects are seeing fruition now. Since 2019, the focus now is on industrial cooperation, social sector and agriculture. Nine Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been initiated in first phase of which Rashakai, Dhabeji and the one in Islamabad are being prioritized. Gwadar Port and SEZs are considered to be the pivot of CPEC.

While reviewing the CPEC progress, it has been found that 16 projects have been completed so far. Most important ones are power plants and motorways. The Gwadar Port has also been operationalized. The Rashakai Special Economic Zone in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province has also been finalized. The Orange Train will be completed in June 2020. Four coal-based power plants are fully operational now. The Gwadar Airport, the Gwadar coal-powered plant (300MW) and vocational training centres in Gwadar will be completed this year. In the next phase, the more focus will be on social development with the inclusion of poverty alleviation, health, education and agriculture sectors which are very important for the welfare of any state. For the effective execution under these very sectors, CPEC Authority should take Ministry of National Health, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis and the Ministry of National Food Security & Research on board.

Generally, it has been observed in general mass-media that engagement of local manpower is not to a satisfactory level, which is due to lack of skilled manpower in Pakistan. In this scenario, the CPEC Authority in collaboration with Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis needs to establish technical vocational training centres in different areas of Pakistan. This step will not only enhance employment opportunities for the local population but will also contribute to poverty alleviation in Pakistan under SDG#1. CPEC has also gained much attention on international media. It has been facing different controversies from India and other countries that always try to defame it. Although, CPEC will not only benefit China and Pakistan but will also have positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, India, Central Asian Republics and the region.

Indeed, the outbreak of novel COVID-19 has also reduced some momentum of CPEC in Pakistan. The virus’s spread has deadly affected the investors facing disrupted supply chains, official containment measures and spill-over from the real economy of China to financial markets. But the resilient Chinese nation has a strong belief that nobody can stop the mega project of CPEC in Pakistan. They are fully determined to continue work on CPEC though pace of work has slowed down due to this global pandemic, but will ultimately lead to its completion with prosperity, economic stability and connectivity in the region. It has also been announced this year that the Government of Pakistan in collaboration with the Chinese enterprise, and China Communications Construction Company has planned to develop the first man-made “Chand Tara Island” of Pakistan in Gwadar with an investment of $10billion.The island will exhibit art amusement park, art & culture museum, concert hall, mega theatre, hotels, resorts, shopping malls, and water front walk facilities. After the completion of Chand Tara Island, Gwadar will become the next trade and economic hub of Pakistan and South Asia. It will create an amazing employment opportunities for people in or near Gwadar.

Since, I have already mentioned in my previous articles about the immense maritime tourism potential in Pakistan. On the development of Chand Tara Island in Gwadar, different leisure activities including water sports activities, scuba diving, parasailing, hotels, motels, restaurants, model tourist village, camping sites can be developed not only in Gwadar but also on other different sites along the coastline. In this regard, National Tourism Coordination Board (NTCB) should play an active role in ensuring effective coordination among the Balochistan Coastal Development Authority (BCDA) and Government of Sindh to mobilize investment in maritime tourism sector of blue economy. Now, there is need to engage more private investors (local & foreign) for cooperation in the exclusive SEZs under CPEC for the expansion of scope of activities as initially planned under CPEC. With the inclusion of all stakeholders, private investors under developed and developing SEZs, CPEC will bring prosperity in the region. CPEC is considered to be the latest stage of China and Pakistan friendship, which will benefit all the neighbouring countries in Asia.


https://pakobserver.net/cpec-progre...jects. These projects are seeing fruition now.

 

[ghazi52]

Uzbekistan has agreed to use Pakistani ports for its exports, saying China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would play a key role.

According to details, the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi was met by Lieutenant Colonel Saadullah Tashmatov, Defence Attaché, Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The meeting proposed a special terminal and navy for exports to Central Asian states. On the occasion, Uzbekistan agreed to use Pakistani ports for its exports, saying that CPEC would play a key role. In the last two years, the trade volume between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has increased to $120 million.

In the meeting, Federal Minister Ali Zaidi said that Pakistani ports are the cheapest and most suitable route for exports to Central Asian countries.

He said that the ML-1 project would further facilitate transit trade, adding that the current government’s business-friendly policies and new shipping policy would play a significant role in this regard.

 

[vi-va]

Uzbekistan has agreed to use Pakistani ports for its exports, saying China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would play a key role.

According to details, the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi was met by Lieutenant Colonel Saadullah Tashmatov, Defence Attaché, Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The meeting proposed a special terminal and navy for exports to Central Asian states. On the occasion, Uzbekistan agreed to use Pakistani ports for its exports, saying that CPEC would play a key role. In the last two years, the trade volume between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has increased to $120 million.

In the meeting, Federal Minister Ali Zaidi said that Pakistani ports are the cheapest and most suitable route for exports to Central Asian countries.

He said that the ML-1 project would further facilitate transit trade, adding that the current government’s business-friendly policies and new shipping policy would play a significant role in this regard.

big win for Pakistan, and big lose for India.

 

[khansaheeb]

CPEC: Progress and prospects

March 25, 2020




TRANSPORT and economic activities are found to be intricately connected to each other. An economic corridor not only includes transport of goods and services by providing paths, gates for the developing countries but also stimulate the social and economic development in the surrounding areas of the routes of an economic corridor. The major focus areas of different economic corridors under consideration include transport, human resource development, energy, telecommunication, tourism, agriculture, environment and trade in a region. The economic corridor’s approach has been executed in various regions of the world including Europe & America to promote regional connectivity and trade from the past decades. The most successful examples of economic corridors are found in Asia and Africa, which are aided by ADB and African Development Bank (ADB).

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched in 2013 and its fast implementation started in April 2015 during the visit of the Chinese President, Mr. Xi Jinping in Islamabad, Pakistan. CPEC is a long-term well-grounded project to develop a strong collaboration between the two neighbouring countries of Pakistan & China for the mutual benefits of China, Central, West, & South Asia. CPEC initially focused on energy and communication infrastructure projects. These projects are seeing fruition now. Since 2019, the focus now is on industrial cooperation, social sector and agriculture. Nine Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been initiated in first phase of which Rashakai, Dhabeji and the one in Islamabad are being prioritized. Gwadar Port and SEZs are considered to be the pivot of CPEC.

While reviewing the CPEC progress, it has been found that 16 projects have been completed so far. Most important ones are power plants and motorways. The Gwadar Port has also been operationalized. The Rashakai Special Economic Zone in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province has also been finalized. The Orange Train will be completed in June 2020. Four coal-based power plants are fully operational now. The Gwadar Airport, the Gwadar coal-powered plant (300MW) and vocational training centres in Gwadar will be completed this year. In the next phase, the more focus will be on social development with the inclusion of poverty alleviation, health, education and agriculture sectors which are very important for the welfare of any state. For the effective execution under these very sectors, CPEC Authority should take Ministry of National Health, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis and the Ministry of National Food Security & Research on board.

Generally, it has been observed in general mass-media that engagement of local manpower is not to a satisfactory level, which is due to lack of skilled manpower in Pakistan. In this scenario, the CPEC Authority in collaboration with Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis needs to establish technical vocational training centres in different areas of Pakistan. This step will not only enhance employment opportunities for the local population but will also contribute to poverty alleviation in Pakistan under SDG#1. CPEC has also gained much attention on international media. It has been facing different controversies from India and other countries that always try to defame it. Although, CPEC will not only benefit China and Pakistan but will also have positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, India, Central Asian Republics and the region.

Indeed, the outbreak of novel COVID-19 has also reduced some momentum of CPEC in Pakistan. The virus’s spread has deadly affected the investors facing disrupted supply chains, official containment measures and spill-over from the real economy of China to financial markets. But the resilient Chinese nation has a strong belief that nobody can stop the mega project of CPEC in Pakistan. They are fully determined to continue work on CPEC though pace of work has slowed down due to this global pandemic, but will ultimately lead to its completion with prosperity, economic stability and connectivity in the region. It has also been announced this year that the Government of Pakistan in collaboration with the Chinese enterprise, and China Communications Construction Company has planned to develop the first man-made “Chand Tara Island” of Pakistan in Gwadar with an investment of $10billion.The island will exhibit art amusement park, art & culture museum, concert hall, mega theatre, hotels, resorts, shopping malls, and water front walk facilities. After the completion of Chand Tara Island, Gwadar will become the next trade and economic hub of Pakistan and South Asia. It will create an amazing employment opportunities for people in or near Gwadar.

Since, I have already mentioned in my previous articles about the immense maritime tourism potential in Pakistan. On the development of Chand Tara Island in Gwadar, different leisure activities including water sports activities, scuba diving, parasailing, hotels, motels, restaurants, model tourist village, camping sites can be developed not only in Gwadar but also on other different sites along the coastline. In this regard, National Tourism Coordination Board (NTCB) should play an active role in ensuring effective coordination among the Balochistan Coastal Development Authority (BCDA) and Government of Sindh to mobilize investment in maritime tourism sector of blue economy. Now, there is need to engage more private investors (local & foreign) for cooperation in the exclusive SEZs under CPEC for the expansion of scope of activities as initially planned under CPEC. With the inclusion of all stakeholders, private investors under developed and developing SEZs, CPEC will bring prosperity in the region. CPEC is considered to be the latest stage of China and Pakistan friendship, which will benefit all the neighbouring countries in Asia.


https://pakobserver.net/cpec-progress-and-prospects/#:~:text=CPEC is a long-term well-grounded project to develop,infrastructure projects. These projects are seeing fruition now.

Exactly how will CPEC benefit India if there is no trade link with Pakistan and China?
"Although, CPEC will not only benefit China and Pakistan but will also have positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, India, Central Asian Republics and the region."

 

[alphapak]

Pakistan will connect China with the middle east and African countries.

 

[ghazi52]

Wakhan Corridore Gilgit Baltistan. Pakistan , Afghanistan & Tajikistan Borders.
Emit Vally Ghizer

Chapurson valley Hunza

Copied Zubair Sharif Qazi

 

[PakAlp]

It would have been great advantage if the Wakhan Corridor belonged to Pakistan. We would have direct link with Tajikistan, rather than through Afghanistan or China.

Maybe a bridge or tunnel would benefit us.

 

[zeeshe100]

Wakhan corridor belongs to Pakistan, its time to make a new border
The Russian-India border, c. 1865, before the creation of the Wakhan Corridor

 

[RedHulk]

Uzbekistan has agreed to use Pakistani ports for its exports, saying China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would play a key role.

According to details, the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi was met by Lieutenant Colonel Saadullah Tashmatov, Defence Attaché, Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The meeting proposed a special terminal and navy for exports to Central Asian states. On the occasion, Uzbekistan agreed to use Pakistani ports for its exports, saying that CPEC would play a key role. In the last two years, the trade volume between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has increased to $120 million.

In the meeting, Federal Minister Ali Zaidi said that Pakistani ports are the cheapest and most suitable route for exports to Central Asian countries.

He said that the ML-1 project would further facilitate transit trade, adding that the current government’s business-friendly policies and new shipping policy would play a significant role in this regard.

When China will start trade? Rest of the countries are joining in but why so slow movement from China?

Wakhan Corridore Gilgit Baltistan. Pakistan , Afghanistan & Tajikistan Borders.
Emit Vally Ghizer

Chapurson valley Hunza

Copied Zubair Sharif Qazi

Let's make a bridge. Pakistan should claim wakhan area.it belong to kpk.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan urged Saudi Arabia, to benefit from the “vast opportunities” of CPEC and its Special Economic Zones (SEZs), as Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Islamabad.

 

[ghazi52]

,.,
According to a statement from Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutqi in Kabul, discussing political and economic ties, including China's Belt and Road Development Program. Walit Chances of China were discussed.

He praised Afghanistan's involvement in Belt and Road Initiative, said China wants to extend CPEC to Afghanistan....
.,.,.,.,

 

[ghazi52]

.,.,
The senior officials of Pakistan and China on Monday discussed the possibility of extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan in order to promote economic development and prosperity in the war-ravaged country.

The idea to extend the flagship programme of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was discussed during a meeting between China’s special envoy on Afghanistan Yue Xiaoyong and Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood at the Foreign Office in Islamabad.
An official statement said the two sides exchanged views on the political and security situation in Afghanistan, humanitarian assistance by Pakistan and China to Afghanistan, and other matters of mutual interest.

“In the context of regional connectivity, both sides exchanged views on extension of CPEC to Afghanistan to promote economic development and prosperity,” read the statement.

The foreign secretary underscored Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, stable, prosperous and connected Afghanistan. He highlighted the provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan including Pakistan’s relief efforts in the wake of devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan on June 22, 2022.

 

[ghazi52]

.,.,

Pakistani industrialists to participate 19th China-ASEAN Expo​

September 12, 2022



Pakistan will once again take part in the 19th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, which will take place from September 16 to 19 in Nanning, China’s capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The relevant authorities have completed all the arrangements in this regard, a senior official said on Sunday. Pakistani traders and industrialists will display handicrafts, furniture, auto parts, gem stones, carpets, sports goods, agricultural machinery and surgical instruments during the expo.

BEIJING – Pakistan, like previous years, will participate in the 19th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit to be held in Nanning, Capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region of China, from September 16 to 19.

The relevant authorities have completed all the arrangements in this regard, a senior official said on Sunday. Pakistani traders and industrialists will display handicrafts, furniture, auto parts, gem stones, carpets, sports goods, agricultural machinery and surgical instruments during the expo.
Themed in sharing new opportunities of the RCEP and jointly advancing version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, the events will showcase the new achievements and highlights of the economic and trade cooperation between the two sides. Covering an area of 102,000 square meters, this year’s exhibition for the first time will feature several sections on new energy vehicles, culture and tourism, healthcare and cross-border e-commerce.

As many as 21 high-level forums and more than 80 economic and trade promotion activities will be held during the expo.

China has remained ASEAN’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. During the first seven months of this year, their trade with each other surged 13.1 percent year-on-year to $544.9 billion, accounting for 15 percent of China’s total foreign trade during the period. As of the end of July, bilateral investment between China and ASEAN had exceeded $340 billion, while the turnover of Chinese enterprises from project contracts in ASEAN countries exceeded $380 billion.

 

[ghazi52]

,.,

Pakistan offers Tajikistan access to Gwadar to tap opportunities under CPEC​

September 16, 2022



Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Thursday met on the sidelines of the meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and discussed issues of mutual interest.

The meeting focused on strengthening Pak-Uzbek ties in diverse fields for the benefit of the two brotherly nations.

Pakistan offered Tajikistan access to its warm water ports of Karachi and Gwadar – part of CPEC – as it reiterated resolve to revive the cross-border power transmission project.

The meeting focused on the ways and means to strengthen relationship between Pakistan and Tajikistan in diverse fields including trade, economy, energy and people-to-people contacts.

 

[ghazi52]

,.,..,
Saudi Arabia’s energy minister Khalid Al-Falih arrived in Pakistan over the weekend and has already visited the deep-water port of Gwadar to review the site of the planned oil city. He and his team were received by top representatives of the coalition government. The visiting Saudi delegation and their hosts discussed plans for signing a number of investment agreements in the coming month, including petrochemical, refining, renewable energy, and mining.

Talking to reporters, Al-Falih said, “Saudi Arabia wants to make Pakistan’s economic development stable through establishing an oil refinery and partnership with Pakistan in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)”.

According to the Saudi official, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Saudi Aramco, bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are very strong, “and Saudi Arabia will play a role in Pakistan’s development and prosperity through investment”.

A high-level delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by the Crown Prince, will visit Pakistan in the last week of November. The Crown Prince is in Pakistan at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation. Pakistan made significant efforts to convince the KSA to fulfill the MoUs and invest in Pakistan.

Besides the Saudi oil project, the Ministry of Petroleum is working to improve Pakistan’s refining policy in order to attract investment for the construction of new refineries. Reports suggest the government has decided to offer investors a profit margin of 14-15 percent, as opposed to the earlier offer of 9 percent in the draft for policy refinement prepared by the previous government.

The coalition also wants China to assist in the construction of another refinery on the CPEC strip, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to present relevant plans to Beijing during his upcoming visit to China.