The government is working hard to ensure implementation of agreements signed during Chinese premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Pakistan three months ago and has warned officials and departments against any inaction, the finance minister said.
Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said inaction on the part of any ministry would not be tolerated in the implementation of decisions taken by the two countries. In order to monitor developments, he asked officials to provide a comprehensive progress report.
Shaikh was chairing a meeting with a Chinese delegation, led by Ambassador to Pakistan Liu Jian, to review progress on the implementation of projects which Beijing had pledged as part of a bid to extend technical and financial assistance to Pakistan.
Several project agreements, worth more than $10 billion, were signed when Jiabao visited Pakistan for three days in December, in China’s latest push to seek improved economic and political relations with regional states.
In the post-flood reconstruction programme, the Chinese government pledged to support Pakistan in reconstruction of a number of projects, which included grants for highways and agriculture.
There are fears in Pakistan that official slackness might take benefit away by delaying implementation of such projects, however, Hafeez stressed that nothing of this nature would be tolerated.
The meeting deliberated upon implementation of agriculture-related projects under economic and technical cooperation and also reviewed progress in the finance and banking sector. Additionally, opening of a National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) branch in China, under prevalent Chinese banking laws, was also proposed.
Under the bilateral trade agreement, China is to send more missions to Pakistan and provide traders with access and free space in exhibitions in Chinese cities, such as Urumqi, Kensing and Chengdu.
Market access through grant of unilateral tariff concession to 228 Pakistani products and launch of second phase of the Pak-China Free Trade Agreement were also discussed.
During the Chinese premier’s visit, new air routes between Pakistan and China were agreed and this subject was touched upon in the meeting as well.
A youth exchange programme was also brought under discussion whereby 100 Chinese and Pakistani youth delegations will visit each other’s countries to enhance cultural cooperation.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2011.
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