PM Imran Khan reviews CPEC projects ahead of second China visit.

[Clutch]

PM Khan reviews CPEC projects ahead of second China visit

Sanaullah KhanUpdated April 11, 2019
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The prime minister says that "CPEC is not only one of the foremost priorities of the government but that he also wants other countries to join the project so that a new chapter of growth and prosperity is ushered in the region." ─ RadioPakistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday, during a high-level meeting on his upcoming visit of China, said that his government's focus during the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would be on agriculture, education and various other sectors.

The prime minister, who is scheduled to embark on his second visit of Beijing later this month, reviewed preparations regarding mutually beneficial projects that Pakistan and China are expected to initiate as part of the CPEC.

The premier, according to a press release issued by the PM's office, remarked that the "first phase of CPEC comprised merely of a few power plants and three roads."

Read: Four key areas under CPEC prioritised

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"Meanwhile, in the second phase, under the incumbent government, agriculture, education, health, water, skill-based education, skill development, transport projects and upgrading of Main Line-1 will be done," he added.

The prime minister said that "CPEC is not only one of the foremost priorities of the government but that he also wants other countries to join the project so that a new chapter of growth and prosperity is ushered in the region."

The meeting was also attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Mahboob Sultan, Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan and other government officials.

China and the Belt and Road Initiative in 2019

OBOReurope wishes you all a happy new year 2019!

In his New Year’s speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke about many issues. He particularly welcomed the achievements accomplished by China in 2018, and mentioned economic and technological successes. He also said that the fight against poverty would continue to be a major priority for China in 2019.

In his vows, Xi Jinping did not forget the international community and stated he wished to continue to support development in the world.

The Belt and Road initiative will continue to advance in 2019. Launched in 2013, the BRI has become a globally recognized program. While some BRI projects have been criticized, most analysts noted that thanks to the BRI, China had become a major power promoting world stability and prosperity. While some states have unfortunately made the choice to turn inward by adopting some protectionist measures, China, thanks to the BRI, actively promotes free trade and multilateralism.


In 2019, new Belt and Road projects are expected to emerge and existing programs, including the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, will go forward. In April 2019, the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in China and is expected to attract leaders from every continent.

For 2019, the European Union needs to build a constructive partnership with China and coordinate its Europe-Asia connectivity strategy with the “Belt and Road” initiative.

 

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PM IMRAN KHAN SAYS CPEC AT TOP OF GOVT AGENDA
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LIKE

DNA
ISLAMABAD
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the Government accords top priority to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Project.

He said that the project will not only help in translating all weather Pak-China relations into mutually beneficial economic equation but will also open new vistas of opportunities for the entire region.
The Prime Minister was meeting with representatives of 15 leading Chinese companies working on various CPEC and other projects in Pakistan.

The Chinese delegation included representatives from Power China, Three Gorges Corporation, CMEC Neelum Jhelum Power Plant Project, Cr-Norinco Orange Line Project, Huawei, Zong, Port Qasim Power Plant, China Gezhouba Corporation, China State Construction, China Harbour, Matiari-Lahore Transmission Line Project, Haier and other companies. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Mr Yao Jing accompanies the delegation.

Mr. Omar Ayub Khan, Minister for Power, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Planning, Mr Haroon Sharif, Chairman BOI, Nadeem Babar, Chairman Energy Task Force and other senior officials were also present.

Talking to the Chinese delegation, the Prime Minister said that the Government will provide all possible facilitation to the Chinese companies in undertaking profitable business ventures and taking advantage of business friendly policies of the present government. Chinese Ambassador while conveying greetings from Chinese President and Premier, said that Chinese leadership is looking forward to the visit of Prime Minister to China.

He thanked the Prime Minister on behalf of Chinese leadership and business community for his personal interest in facilitating Chinese businessmen and addressing their issues.

He assured the Prime Minister that Chinese companies will continue to partner with the government in socio-economic development of Pakistan. = DNA

 

[shahbaz baig]

The premier, according to a press release issued by the PM's office, remarked that the "first phase of CPEC comprised merely of a few power plants and three roads."

Three Roads means western,central & eastern route of CPEC.

"Meanwhile, in the second phase, under the incumbent government, agriculture, education, health, water, skill-based education, skill development, transport projects and upgrading of Main Line-1 will be done," he added.

second phase belong to LTP (Long term plan) of CPEC if I am not wrong.

1. ML-1
The total length of this railway line is 1,687 kilometers (1,048 mi). There are 184 railway stations from Kiamari to Peshawar Cantonment on this line. The line serves as the main passenger and freight line of the country. 75% of the country’s cargo and passenger traffic uses the line.
Main Line - 1 should be upgraded under BOT Model, 160 kilometers per hour is expected upon completion.

2. Agriculture
It begins by noting that agriculture with wide-ranging engagement across the entire sector. Boosting yields in the crop sector, reducing losses from harvest and transportation, and engaging with livestock and dairy are some of the thrusts envisaged under the plan. The eventual goal appears to be to boost Pakistan’s food exports to China.

3. Education
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is paving way for educational excellence in China and Pakistan! With multiple university collaborations, and research think-tanks being established, CPEC is providing study abroad and research opportunities for students of both countries.

The governments of Pakistan and China have established institutional links between two renowned universities of the two countries i.e. Xinjiang Normal University, China, and the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Pakistan.

Institutional collaboration proposed under CPEC:

1. MoU between NUML, Islamabad, and Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, for cooperation on higher education.
2. Agreement on collaborative establishment of NUML International Center of Education (NICE) between NUML, Islamabad, Pakistan, and Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, China.

It is requested that more opportunities & quota of scholarship will be increased for brilliant students so that participation of other universities from around the country can perform their crucial rule such as NUST, KU, IBA & NED Universities of Pakistan.

4. Health
Statistical data showed that population per doctor and population per bed did not improve much over than previous years. Access to healthcare services remains inadequate because of insufficient human resources and medical infrastructure. Recent pharmaceutical industrial data of Pakistan shows that both national and multinational companies have contributed in growth of pharmaceutical industries. Domestic companies fulfilled 58 percent of the local demand and multinational manufacturers fulfilled the rest.

The healthcare system of China assures the provision of basic facilities to each individual through healthcare insurance. Out of top 25 pharmaceutical manufacturers in China, 22 are domestic companies. CPEC could play a key role in mutual cooperation between Chinese and Pakistani pharmaceutical industries. Availability of cheaper raw materials to manufacturers in Pakistan can be of mutual benefit for both countries.

Other than hospital and pharmaceutical industries, there is a need to build medical colleges and universities, state-of-the-art research laboratories, drug stores and pharmacies along the CPEC. In order to polish the medical skills of the personnel, the doctors, pharmacists and other medical staff exchange programs can be initiated. For health and knowledge corridor, experts from both China and Pakistan will be needed to bring revolutionary changes in health sector. Health corridor will bring drastic changes which in turn will improve the basic health facilities in Pakistan. Once the project completed successfully people of even rural areas can be able to get quality treatment without traveling to major cities.

4. skill-based education/ skill development

the provinces must build the capacity for the provision of relevant skills & transfer of knowledge & equipments for proposed CPEC projects and prospective economic activities of every province. It will also serve to give directions for identifying and knowing the extent and nature of skill requirements for medium and long terms CPEC projects and its based labor markets needs in future. The results of this identification study are expected to give directions for policy makers, provincial
departments working for province, Chinese investors, unemployed young segment of the provinces, business community, and other stakeholders to work for the betterment and overall socio-economic development of Pakistan.

Skill based Quality education is one of the biggest challenges for Pakistan.

The country is in need to develop the skills of the young generation through specialized technical education which mostly lack from practical implementations, equipments during developing technical skills.

The collaboration of technical board of Pakistan of every province with Chinese & Pakistan's universities those specifically studying for CPEC related projects must be done in order to get workforce at right time.

@Clutch what does mean by transport project? Like the one BRI ?

 

[Clutch]

@Clutch what does mean by transport project? Like the one BRI ?

It could be the railway ... The PTI government seems more keen on railway CPEC invests versus roads that PML was focused on.... Excluding the Western route that PTI wants done from Gwadar.

Just my thoughts.

 

[shahbaz baig]

It could be the railway ... The PTI government seems more keen on railway CPEC invests versus roads that PML was focused on.... Excluding the Western route that PTI wants done from Gwadar.

Just my thoughts.

I was kidding bro about BRI (belt road initiative) as simply saying transport project.