Pakistan, China agree to expedite Gwadar projects

Also decide to promote socioeconomic development

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Thursday agreed to expedite implementation of Gwadar projects, particularly development of the social sector, recommending the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), China-Pakistan Friendship Hospital and Vocational and Technical Institute as main deliverables for the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting to be held in Beijing next month.

During meetings of Joint Working Groups (JWGs) on Gwadar and planning held here via video conference, the two sides also agreed to promote socioeconomic development and finalise a way forward for cooperation in order to ensure early identification and implementation of projects.

The meetings were co-chaired by Planning, Development and Reform (PD&R) Secretary Zafar Hasan and Chinese National Development and Reform Commission Director General Xia Qing.



Officials from line ministries, provincial governments and embassies attended the meetings.

Hasan said the government attached top priority to development of Gwadar as a gateway of the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that would open new avenues of cooperation between Pakistan and China.

Expressing satisfaction on progress of CPEC projects, the secretary said the government attached extreme importance to the development of Gwadar.

“Both sides need to take immediate measures so that the city development plans can be undertaken as per agreed timelines.”

He also appreciated progress of the Gwadar Free Zone, City Master Plan, Eastbay Expressway and port development projects.

Hasan said CPEC had shown tremendous progress in the past five years with the help of sound planning for a win-win outcome, to guarantee the expeditious, stable and sustainable development of the corridor.
The secretary highlighted that the recent visit of the prime minister to China and the joint communique issued at its conclusion heralded a new chapter in China-Pakistan relationship and CPEC.

He said the government looked forward to working with China in new areas focusing on socioeconomic development, cooperation in agriculture modernisation, value chains and poverty alleviation.



Hasan mentioned that a memorandum of understanding for a JWG on socioeconomic cooperation was approved during the visit. “Within socioeconomic development, the government is particularly focusing on education, medical treatment, poverty alleviation, water supply and vocational training,” he said.

He remarked that the government was also keen to explore avenues of cooperation in the agriculture sector such as bringing improvement regarding land fragmentation, consolidation and settlement, land use zoning and planning, land pooling and cooperative farming.

The official also highlighted the government’s desire to establish food processing industries in nine Special Economic Zones under CPEC to boost exports, cooperate in conservation of genetic resources for livestock, poultry and aquatic products, conduct joint research and collaborate in water conservation and management through efficient technologies.