Pakistan

'Govt committed to unlock full potential of CPEC', PM tells Chinese envoy

Premier Shehbaz also appreciates China’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and development

News Desk July 29, 2022

PHOTO: APP

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday underlined the government’s commitment to unlocking the full economic and connectivity potential of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor through expedited and high-quality development of CPEC projects.

He emphasised the importance of key projects like Main Line One (ML-1) and Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) in Pakistan’s development plans and expressed a desire to move towards the finalisation of these projects in the upcoming 11th meeting of the CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee.

The prime minister expressed these views as he received Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong at the PM House in Islamabad, a statement issued by the PM Media Office said.

Expressing satisfaction on the upward trajectory of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China, the premier recalled his comprehensive and wide-ranging discussions with Premier Li Keqiang in a telephone call on May 16, 2022, and their consensus to further deepen and strengthen Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

He underscored that Pakistan and China were best friends, staunchest partners and iron brothers, adding that the two nations had always stood by each other through fair weather and times of challenges, and extended support on key issues of core interest.

PM Shehbaz appreciated China’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and development, including in dealing with the emerging economic challenges and volatility in global supply chains and commodities.

Sharing Pakistan’s focus on the early development of CPEC Special Economic Zones (SEZs), he welcomed the increased investments of Chinese enterprises, especially in the country’s industrial development.

Referring to the increasing bilateral trade volumes and Pakistan’s record exports of $3.6 billion in 2021, the prime minister emphasised that enhanced market access for Pakistani exports to China would help realise the full potential of the Pakistan-China Free Trade Agreement.

The premier was accompanied by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Minister of State Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and special assistants to PM Tariq Fatemi, Zafarullah Mahmood and Jehanzab Khan.

COMMENTS (3)

Yaqoot | 2 years ago | Reply Exports to the US are sitting at over USD 9 billion the friendship with China has to translate into bilateral trade rising and more Pakistani exports to China USD 3.6 Billion is simply unacceptable. The chinese brothers need to help with key industries like petroleum processing in house NOT selling us lubricants but helping us manufacture lubricants in Pakistan which cost us 5 Billion dollars last year . Same for Mobile phones home appliances they simply cannot be imported most of all Chinese manufacturers need to start helping us set up Automobile parts manufacturing for chinese models NOT CKD imports please. Same holds for telecom equipment speciality coatings resin and FRP pipe manufacturing we are bleeding money importing useless goods from other countries.

what | 2 years ago | Reply what fruitful impact will KARACHI CIRCULAR RAILWAY make on national economy.we should promote industry on chinese loan.from such projects it seems china want to trap us in loan on dead projects

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

test | 2 years ago | Reply PMLN PTI govt must complete CPEC asap. Also west must cut complete ties with india if it want sustainable relations with Pakistan and then shift your manufacturing and investment to Pakistan only then there will be an alliance otherwise. As far as Pakistani govt is concerned we must complete CPEC asap even if it means to give up on some projects like roads and bridges but yeah railway and dam projects must never be delayed and must be completed. Railways and Dams projects are a must and must be completed on time or early completion is also good option. I repeat it we should complete cpec earlier in order to start delivering chinese goods through cpec routes to earn valuable forex and chinese manufacturing too. There had already been delays in this regard but not anymore. Complete CPEC asap. And China our friend must set up mega factories in Pakistan. Our financially situation cannot be described our elite has terribly looted Pakistan. They have done worst then even our enemy could or had. Look at our trade deficit current account deficit fiscal deficit state entity losses. Also lack of western investment changed Pakistan to move from west to China in the longer term with strategic alliance. So now China must must step in to help Pakistan. China must do it and also push our country Pakistan and its leaders to complete cpec. We don t want to become defaulted yes we want to be come malaysia or vietnam. So build dams dams and dams.

Replying to X