‘Govt committed to ensuring united and strong Pakistan’
* Ahsan Iqbal says joint working groups on various components of CPEC are likely to meet in August

ISLAMABAD: The joint working groups on various components of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are expected to hold their meetings in August.

The joint working group on energy is scheduled to meet in the first week of August, groups on transport infrastructure and Gwadar in second week and group on planning in third week of August.

Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said this while chairing a meeting convened to review the progress of the projects of CPEC. The meeting was briefed about the progress on CPEC projects by respective ministries. The Water and Power Ministry updated about the progress on various power projects started under CPEC. The National Highway Authority briefed about the progress on infrastructure projects of CPEC including Karakoram Highway upgrading, western route, and Multan-Sukkur motorway whereas Gwadar Port Authority briefed about 14-km long Gwadar East Bay Expressway. Aviation Division briefed about work on New Gwadar International Airport, expected to be ready by 2018. The Railway Ministry gave a briefing on ML-1 upgrading, which will upgrade and modernise Karachi-Peshawar rail track to increase speed of trains from 80 km/hr to 140 km/hr. The meeting reviewed the progress on cooperation in industrial field under CPEC.

Iqbal in his introductory remarks said that $46 billion CPEC investment would prove to be a game-changer not just for Pakistan, but the entire region.

He said the government is committed to ensuring a united and strong Pakistan through shared prosperity and inclusive development. He said that CPEC would bring dividends to all provinces and regions of Pakistan.

“All ministries must ensure speedy implementation of CPEC projects to seize the opportunities that are knocking at our door. Now we have political stability and peace conditions are improving which is helping in creating conducive investment climate in the country. We have to build on the momentum by working harder, better, and smarter.”

The meeting reviewed the progress on Port Qasim Electric Company Coal Fired 2 Sahiwal 2x660MW Coal-fired Power Plant, Punjab, Engro Thar 2x330MW Coal-fired, Thar, Sindh, Surface mine in Block II of Thar coal field, 3.8 mtpa, Thar Sindh, Gwadar Coal Power Project, Gwadar, SSRL Thar Coal Block 6.5mpta and CPIH Mine Mouth Power Plant, Thar, Sindh, Quaid-e-Azam 1000MW Solar Park, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Dawood 50MW Wind Farm, Bhambore, Sindh, UEP 100MW Wind Farm, Jhimpir, Sindh, Sachal 50MW Wind Farm, Jhimpir, Sindh, Sunnec 50MW Wind Farm, Jhimpir, Sindh, Karot Hydropower Station, AJK and Punjab, HUBCO Coal Power Plant, Salt Range Mine Mouth Power Project, including mining, Punjab, Kohala Hydro Project, AJK, Pakistan Wind Farm II (Jhimpir, Thatta, Sindh and Thar mine mouth oracle, Thar Sindh in energy sector.

In transport infrastructure, meeting reviewed the progress on KKH Phase II (Raikot – Islamabad Section) and Peshawar-Karachi Motorway (Multan-Sukkur Section) and western route.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of Havelian dry port in rail sector projects.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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