Saudi Arabia ‘joining CPEC to make Gwadar an oil city’

[Mrc]

We need confirmation of this news

 

[Clutch]

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is set to get a major push as Saudi Arabia is expected to join the multi-billion-dollar project soon.

With the Islamic Kingdom joining the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of the Chinese government, the major stakeholders – Islamabad and Beijing – will speed up the efforts to complete projects as soon as possible.

Reports in media suggest Saudia Arabia is going to turn Gawadar into an oil city.



Pakistan needs $9 billion to run state affairs and it will overcome its difficulties with the heavy investment coming from China and Saudi Arabia.

In September last year, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Ahmed Al-Malky said that Saudi Arabia would “soon” undertake investments at Gwadar Port and join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The Arab kingdom is one of the many countries who have shown keen interest in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), primarily to relate its economy with China and take steps in achieving its 2030 Vision.



The vision of the KSA 2030 Plan is to diversify the economy with mega projects like powerhouses and energy to reduce the kingdom’s dependency on oil.

One of the pillars of their vision plans is to use its unique location and become a global hub for vast economic activities. The CPEC would provide the Saudis a network of great trade pattern to engage even better in the world trade traffic.



KSA will also be able to help China to have a better crude oil for its import purposes as billions of dollars of China’s economy is highly dependent on trade activities.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia both can benefit from the exclusive trade routes under the BRI project.

This is huge news if it is actually put into action versus just a MOI .

Let's see.

 

[Pakistansdefender]

They won't.

With pm Imran visit only day long,
What would they talk.
He is supposedly getting 10 billion in reserves.
He is supposedly getting 2 billion relaxation on oil payments.
He is supposedly getting billions of investment.
He is Supposedly getting a bail out package of 6 to 7 billion..
While in reality I don't have much high hopes. He would ask, but they would not give.
He can make them invest in diamer bhasha dam, but....
These faisal wavda types people create hype and make such high hopes whereas in reality there is no Such thing. Imran should keep him out of media.
Yesterday he was claiming that Imran khan would announce something today that would shock everyone.
Then he is the one claiming that saudia would give Imran billions and so on.

 

[Clutch]

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE > BUSINESS

Pakistan eyes $8b investment from China, Saudi Arabia

By Shahbaz Rana
Published: September 18, 2018
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While speaking about the infrastructure projects, the minister said that even the eastern route was not financially viable and the government will have to use taxpayers’ money in future to keep this road functioning. PHOTO:REUTERS/ FILE

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan eyes nearly $8 billion investment from China and Saudi Arabia, under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), in road, energy and oil sectors, after the new government decided to pick schemes on their ‘merits’.

Decisions are being taken after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government completed its internal review of the multibillion dollar strategic initiative and came to a decision to open the corridor for investment by other countries that are either members of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or on friendly terms with China and Pakistan.

Priorities set for CPEC were not right in the past and some of the transport and road infrastructure projects were selected for phase-I of CPEC due to political reasons, said Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar on Monday. He was speaking at a meeting of the Senate’s Special Committee on CPEC, chaired by Senator Sherry Rehman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).



Officials of the planning ministry also confessed that the western route of CPEC was not funded by China – a stance that is contrary to earlier public statements and against the resolution passed by All Parties Conference.

While responding to questions raised by committee members, the minister said that the government has decided to reprioritise CPEC. He said that the imported coal-fired CPEC projects, mainly 1,320 megawatts (MW) Rahim Yar Khan, have been put on the backburner.

Instead, two new hydropower projects would be proposed to the Chinese authorities in the next meeting of the Joint Working Group on Energy for their inclusion in CPEC, said Bakhtiar.

These two energy projects include the 700-megawatt (MW) Azad Pattan hydropower project, having an estimated cost of $1.4 billion and 640-MW Mahl hydropower project worth $1.2 billion, said CPEC Project Director Hasaan Daud. Both these projects are located in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The committee was also informed that Pakistan will propose to include western route project (Dera Ismail Khan-Yarik-Zhob road) to the Chinese authorities. The cost of this project is Rs76.5 billion or $612 million.

“The western route projects are not funded by China under CPEC,” admitted the project director of CPEC before the special committee of the Senate. He said that the rest of the four schemes are funded by Pakistan through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

Had national interests been supreme in the CPEC planning, the western route would have been given preference over the eastern route, said Senator Usman Kakar. He said that the eastern route was picked for construction due to Punjab-centric approach of the last government.

While responding to a question after the committee meeting, the planning minister said that Saudi Arabia can invest in oil refinery to be set up in Gwadar under the economic corridor. He said setting up oil refineries and petrochemicals sector in Gwadar was part of the PTI government’s plan to make Gwadar a hub of transshipment.

But the minister said that it was too early to say whether a memorandum of understanding (MoU) can be signed on Saudi oil refinery during Tuesday’s visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Jeddah and subsequent visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan.

Shell plans to invest $15-16m to meet growing demand

Officials said there were discussions to set up an oil refinery in Balochistan of up to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd). Earlier, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government had abandoned the project that had $5 billon cost. Now the same refinery can be established by Saudi Arabia.

During his last days in power, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had also approved $1.6 billion worth of incentives for UAE-based Abu Dhabi Petroleum Investment Company for setting up a refinery.

The CPEC project director said that work on all early harvest projects was supposed to be completed by December 2018, but some of them, including the Mainline-I project of Pakistan Railways, were falling behind schedule.

Pakistan loses business deal worth $940 million due to approval issues

Bakhtiar said that the Main Line-I project, which has an estimated cost of $8.2 billion, was also open for third countries investment. While responding to a question, the minister said that Germany and Japan have the expertise to complete such mega projects.

While speaking about the infrastructure projects, the minister said that even the eastern route was not financially viable and the government will have to use taxpayers’ money in future to keep this road functioning.

Although, the western route was completely ignored by the previous government, work on two roads of the eastern route was fast-tracked, with a progress of up to 71%, according to the planning ministry’s presentation. The project director admitted that a few roads on the western route that were funded from the PSDP were of low quality.

“The Orange Line Metro project and two eastern route roads should not have been in the first implementation phase of CPEC,” said Bakhtiar. He said that the government will try to monetise some of the sections of the eastern route.

Unfortunately, projects that had a completion period of more than five years were ignored by the last government due to political reasons, said the minister.

Post-Brexit: UK assures Pakistan of preferential market access

He emphasised that the economic and regional development and more importantly ground realities should be taken into account, while making long-term plans for the country. He said that it was unfortunate that not even one prioritised Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was operationalised in the last four years.

The parliamentary committee was informed that so far about 68,382 jobs were created under CPEC and out of them 58,325 employees were Pakistanis. About 10,057 Chinese were also employed on CPEC projects.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2018.

 

[RIP Pak LAW]

PM IK is flying to UAE today, possibly for india-Pak match. No news on Saudia's potential help $$$

Rumors were of $10 billion cash flow for an year. In this one year period, Pakistan will not use that money and will return back the amount in gradual increments after an year.

 

[Pan-Islamic-Pakistan]

KSA is walking along two very different international policies. This means there is a lack of unity in KSA as far as which direction it needs to go.

US/Israel will not tolerate KSA moving close to China, but KSA relies of Pakistan for military training and China is a large customer.

Maybe KSA realizes that domestic US anti-Saudi sentiment is at an all time high, in fact, the US is allowing court cases to move forward in which 9/11 families are suing KSA for damages. Trump rode to victory on the back of anti-Saudi and anti-Muslim sentiment. US will ditch KSA, its not a matter of if, but when.

Unfortunately, KSA is in a very difficult position. I am hoping that common sense prevails and KSA will start moving toward Russia, China, Turkey, Pakistan, and even Iran. Israel has always been the biggest threat to KSA.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

I don't expect much out of this trip other than peanuts. KSA can, if it wishes give one ton gold bars but it will spare those for USA. This trip is as much as internal politics as is a trip to garner financial support. How so? Well the Saudi influence and prestige has so overshadowed Pakistan that any Pak leader must make a trip to KSA, be seen with Saudi royalty to reinfoce his position back in Pakistan. Rather similiar to how US presidents have to make a show visit to Israel or be seen with Israeli PM and give the obligatory "Israel is our ally" speach.

Going back to KSA we must keep one fact in mind. KSA is a solid ally of US. Indeed KSA is only second to Israel in Middle East in US order of allies. Both Israel and KSA work together with US to contain and restrict Iran.This equation is not about to change anytime soon.

With regards to Saudi help to Pakistan it never goes beyond peanuts. Always enough to keep Pakistan a loyal dog but not enough for this dog to stand tall. Has anybody done the real figures that KSA has given to Pakistan? I bet they are not even close to the peanuts US gives to Pakistan.

In theory everything PM IK dreams of could be secured on this trip. KSA/GCC are the biggest employers of ex-pat workers [mostly Indian] and we all know central to PM IK's manifesto is to help the poor. What better way then to get a agreement with GCC that Pakistan will get jobs for 2 million workers. This could be done annualy with 400k workers over 5 years giving time to train them and Indian workers being discharged back to Gangadesh and as a bonus this would really hurt Modi's India.

But non of this is going to happen. $100s of billions will be available though to spoil Trump by buying expensive US defence articles which are not needed but are purchased to buy American favours.

@Pan-Islamic-Pakistan @Pakistansdefender

 

[Yankee-stani]

I don't expect much out of this trip other than peanuts. KSA can, if it wishes give one ton gold bars but it will spare those for USA. This trip is as much as internal politics as is a trip to garner financial support. How so? Well the Saudi influence and prestige has so overshadowed Pakistan that any Pak leader must make a trip to KSA, be seen with Saudi royalty to reinfoce his position back in Pakistan. Rather similiar to how US presidents have to make a show visit to Israel or be seen with Israeli PM and give the obligatory "Israel is our ally" speach.

Going back to KSA we must keep one fact in mind. KSA is a solid ally of US. Indeed KSA is only second to Israel in Middle East in US order of allies. Both Israel and KSA work together with US to contain and restrict Iran.This equation is not about to change anytime soon.

With regards to Saudi help to Pakistan it never goes beyond peanuts. Always enough to keep Pakistan a loyal dog but not enough for this dog to stand tall. Has anybody done the real figures that KSA has given to Pakistan? I bet they are not even close to the peanuts US gives to Pakistan.

In theory everything PM IK dreams of could be secured on this trip. KSA/GCC are the biggest employers of ex-pat workers [mostly Indian] and we all know central to PM IK's manifesto is to help the poor. What better way then to get a agreement with GCC that Pakistan will get jobs for 2 million workers. This could be done annualy with 400k workers over 5 years giving time to train them and Indian workers being discharged back to Gangadesh and as a bonus this would really hurt Modi's India.

But non of this is going to happen. $100s of billions will be available though to spoil Trump by buying expensive US defence articles which are not needed but are purchased to buy American favours.

@Pan-Islamic-Pakistan @Pakistansdefender

I know a lot of Pakistanis still like KSA but in all honesty they can get a middle finger what have done for us nothing but using us as poodle for 40 years and also they bought in Wahhabism too so nothing good so screw the Gulf Arabs

 

[RIP Pak LAW]

No confirmed news on it.

 

[Pan-Islamic-Pakistan]

I don't expect much out of this trip other than peanuts. KSA can, if it wishes give one ton gold bars but it will spare those for USA. This trip is as much as internal politics as is a trip to garner financial support. How so? Well the Saudi influence and prestige has so overshadowed Pakistan that any Pak leader must make a trip to KSA, be seen with Saudi royalty to reinfoce his position back in Pakistan. Rather similiar to how US presidents have to make a show visit to Israel or be seen with Israeli PM and give the obligatory "Israel is our ally" speach.

Going back to KSA we must keep one fact in mind. KSA is a solid ally of US. Indeed KSA is only second to Israel in Middle East in US order of allies. Both Israel and KSA work together with US to contain and restrict Iran.This equation is not about to change anytime soon.

With regards to Saudi help to Pakistan it never goes beyond peanuts. Always enough to keep Pakistan a loyal dog but not enough for this dog to stand tall. Has anybody done the real figures that KSA has given to Pakistan? I bet they are not even close to the peanuts US gives to Pakistan.

In theory everything PM IK dreams of could be secured on this trip. KSA/GCC are the biggest employers of ex-pat workers [mostly Indian] and we all know central to PM IK's manifesto is to help the poor. What better way then to get a agreement with GCC that Pakistan will get jobs for 2 million workers. This could be done annualy with 400k workers over 5 years giving time to train them and Indian workers being discharged back to Gangadesh and as a bonus this would really hurt Modi's India.

But non of this is going to happen. $100s of billions will be available though to spoil Trump by buying expensive US defence articles which are not needed but are purchased to buy American favours.

@Pan-Islamic-Pakistan @Pakistansdefender

Yes, pretty much. Most Pakistanis are still stuck in the nostalgia of previous years when KSA was a strong supporter of Pakistan, such as under King Faisal bin Abul Aziz RA.

Poor, illiterate Pakistanis in our streets still have a strong loyalty to the KSA brand with a very simple, naive love of KSA and the rest of the Arabs. Most of them have never met any Arabs, except for maybe Hajj or Umrah.

Most of the Pakistanis who have worked or lived in the Gulf have moved beyond this, and realize the truth: Arabs generally look down on Pakistanis and don’t treat us with the same respect with which we treat them. I am confident that we as a nation will move beyond these rose colored lenses to see the world as it is.

In the West, Pakistanis and Arabs are generally in competition for jobs, masajid boards, in hospitals, civil groups, and even as religious conferences. Western Pakistanis may have the most negative view of Arabs because they have neutral ground to hear, observe, and interact with Arabs.

In the general Arab view (religious or irreligious,) Pakistanis, Iranians, Turks, Africans are not equal to them and definitely not true Muslims. Either they are fake Muslims like Shias, Sufis, Kemalists,etc.

I blame radical Arab salafists and Arab nationalism for this false propaganda against Non-Arabs.

We have to understand that Arabs are not any super Muslims, but like the rest of us they can be stuck in jahilliyah and superstitions.

In short, to the KSA, there is nothing special about Pakistan except that it is a rival Muslim nation and reliance on Pakistan can be lessened by dealing with India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.

I am however optimistic for the future of KSA, although they may need a rude awakening by Uncle Sam like we got to see the truth.

 

[CHACHA"G"]

I believe there will be no billions of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ end of story....

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

KSA is walking along two very different international policies. This means there is a lack of unity in KSA as far as which direction it needs to go.

US/Israel will not tolerate KSA moving close to China, but KSA relies of Pakistan for military training and China is a large customer.

Maybe KSA realizes that domestic US anti-Saudi sentiment is at an all time high, in fact, the US is allowing court cases to move forward in which 9/11 families are suing KSA for damages. Trump rode to victory on the back of anti-Saudi and anti-Muslim sentiment. US will ditch KSA, its not a matter of if, but when.

Unfortunately, KSA is in a very difficult position. I am hoping that common sense prevails and KSA will start moving toward Russia, China, Turkey, Pakistan, and even Iran. Israel has always been the biggest threat to KSA.

The Turkish Muslim analysts are all but certain that it's not gonna stop till the tanks reach at the gates of the Haremain!!! As for the KSA, some bleak days are ahead, and it's per the design....

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Yes, pretty much. Most Pakistanis are still stuck in the nostalgia of previous years when KSA was a strong supporter of Pakistan, such as under King Faisal bin Abul Aziz RA.

Poor, illiterate Pakistanis in our streets still have a strong loyalty to the KSA brand with a very simple, naive love of KSA and the rest of the Arabs. Most of them have never met any Arabs, except for maybe Hajj or Umrah.

Most of the Pakistanis who have worked or lived in the Gulf have moved beyond this, and realize the truth: Arabs generally look down on Pakistanis and don’t treat us with the same respect with which we treat them. I am confident that we as a nation will move beyond these rose colored lenses to see the world as it is.

In the West, Pakistanis and Arabs are generally in competition for jobs, masajid boards, in hospitals, civil groups, and even as religious conferences. Western Pakistanis may have the most negative view of Arabs because they have neutral ground to hear, observe, and interact with Arabs.

In the general Arab view (religious or irreligious,) Pakistanis, Iranians, Turks, Africans are not equal to them and definitely not true Muslims. Either they are fake Muslims like Shias, Sufis, Kemalists,etc.

I blame radical Arab salafists and Arab nationalism for this false propaganda against Non-Arabs.

We have to understand that Arabs are not any super Muslims, but like the rest of us they can be stuck in jahilliyah and superstitions.

In short, to the KSA, there is nothing special about Pakistan except that it is a rival Muslim nation and reliance on Pakistan can be lessened by dealing with India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.

I am however optimistic for the future of KSA, although they may need a rude awakening by Uncle Sam like we got to see the truth.

Great post. All Arabs are not the same. My issue is with the Gulf/Oily Arabs. Arrogant. Money has got to their heads. The Levant or North African Arabs have their own characteristics. Yemani's are also down to earth. I have met some in UK. Most are working class and struggling with life.

And yes your right. Most Pakistani's have a very idealistic view of Arabs. I think because they associate the holy sites of Islam with Arabs. Accordingly they look through that prism.

 

[Yankee-stani]

Yes, pretty much. Most Pakistanis are still stuck in the nostalgia of previous years when KSA was a strong supporter of Pakistan, such as under King Faisal bin Abul Aziz RA.

Poor, illiterate Pakistanis in our streets still have a strong loyalty to the KSA brand with a very simple, naive love of KSA and the rest of the Arabs. Most of them have never met any Arabs, except for maybe Hajj or Umrah.

Most of the Pakistanis who have worked or lived in the Gulf have moved beyond this, and realize the truth: Arabs generally look down on Pakistanis and don’t treat us with the same respect with which we treat them. I am confident that we as a nation will move beyond these rose colored lenses to see the world as it is.

In the West, Pakistanis and Arabs are generally in competition for jobs, masajid boards, in hospitals, civil groups, and even as religious conferences. Western Pakistanis may have the most negative view of Arabs because they have neutral ground to hear, observe, and interact with Arabs.

In the general Arab view (religious or irreligious,) Pakistanis, Iranians, Turks, Africans are not equal to them and definitely not true Muslims. Either they are fake Muslims like Shias, Sufis, Kemalists,etc.

I blame radical Arab salafists and Arab nationalism for this false propaganda against Non-Arabs.

We have to understand that Arabs are not any super Muslims, but like the rest of us they can be stuck in jahilliyah and superstitions.

In short, to the KSA, there is nothing special about Pakistan except that it is a rival Muslim nation and reliance on Pakistan can be lessened by dealing with India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.

I am however optimistic for the future of KSA, although they may need a rude awakening by Uncle Sam like we got to see the truth.

Well being raised in the West you do see different diaspora's and how they behave my personal thoughts on the Arabs are mixed tbh, the Gulf One I hate them they arrogant Sons of B...ches who think that money can buy friends and in general will degrade you for not being "religious" in their eyes but behind the backs they are drinking and f...cking Euro thots from the Former USSR republics.Yemenis tho I feel bad for them I dont like them that much too they are un-hygenic, and are gangsters here or act like they are another trait I dont like same goes for Egyptians but Egyptians are cheap skakes.The Only Arabs I had decent relations with are from Lebanon or Syria as they are more or less kinda like us not poor not rich here and they too have been screwed over by the Gulf Arabs politically and socially.

Great post. All Arabs are not the same. My issue is with the Gulf/Oily Arabs. Arrogant. Money has got to their heads. The Levant or North African Arabs have their own characteristics. Yemani's are also down to earth. I have met some in UK. Most are working class and struggling with life.

And yes your right. Most Pakistani's have a very idealistic view of Arabs. I think because they associate the holy sites of Islam with Arabs. Accordingly they look through that prism.

Yemenis here act like gangsters here which I hate very much

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Yemenis here act like gangsters here which I hate very much

Yeh same here. They kind of blend into the gangsta Somali's. But still they don't act arrogant. And I agree Lebanese and Syrians are cool. I like Algerians/Tunisians too. Although I have not met enough to make final conclusions.

But the petro-Arabs. No, no!