ISLAMABAD/BEIJING - The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet will discuss the approval of the summary for the implementation agreement, supplemental agreement and power purchase agreement (PPA) for 300MW Gwadar coal power project today (Wednesday).

The 300MW Gwadar Coal Power Project is on the agenda of upcoming CPEC Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) and therefore the approval of the implementation agreement and power purchase agreement (PPA) by the ECC and Cabinet prior to the meeting is required, official source told The Nation. After the approval of the ECC, the summary will be moved to the cabinet for final approval.

The 300 MW coal power project is most likely to get the approval during next JCC, the source said. The total cost of the project is $542 million and it will be completed by June 2023. Meanwhile, a press statement issued here stated that a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on CPEC (CCoCPEC) was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar here.

The Cabinet Committee on CPEC (CCoCPEC) reviewed the progress on various projects undertaken by the Working Groups under CPEC. The meeting was briefed on the overall progress of CPEC projects in industrial cooperation, energy, infrastructure, gwadar, science and technology, socio-economic development, agriculture, transport & communications and issues faced in the implementation of these projects.

The committee noted that significant progress had been achieved on various projects. Chair stated that CPEC is a priority project for enhancing Pak-China economic cooperation. He stressed that the Ministries/Divisions should maintain the momentum of CPEC projects and follow the timelines for early completion of projects. He said that the second phase of CPEC which focuses on industrial cooperation will significantly enhance the benefits of CPEC for both sides. 

Cabinet Committee on CPEC reviews progress on various projects undertaken by the Working Groups under CPEC

The committee also emphasized that unresolved inter-ministerial issues should be brought before the CCoCPEC directly by the respective Ministries along with recommendations for their resolution.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Quareshi, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Federal Minister for Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Minister for Economic Affairs Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar, Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati, Abdul Razak Dawood Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce & Investment, Advisor to Prime Minister for Institutional Reforms & Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission and official of various Ministers and Divisions.

Pakistan seeks support of Chinese govt,
enterprises to
improve agri sector

Pakistan’s Ambassador Moin-ul Haque on Tuesday sought support of the Chinese government and enterprises to improve agriculture sector in Pakistan and expressed the confidence that both countries could turn a new page in agriculture and industrial modernisation for shared benefits.

“We are confident that with the support of Chinese government, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and the Chinese enterprises, we can turn a new page in agriculture and industrial modernization for shared benefits,” he said while addressing the launching ceremony of China-Pakistan Agricultural and Industrial Cooperation Information Platform held online.

He informed that Pakistan government had made agriculture and industrial revitalization a linchpin for its broad-based efforts for the socio-economic development, mitigation of climate change, management of urbanization and national growth and development, adding “so in order to achieve this objective, we look forward to the win-win cooperation with China.”

For enhancing yield of crops, modernization of irrigation system, value addition with agricultural and attracting foreign investments, Chinese investments are specially important.

He remarked that Pakistan and China were all-weather strategic partners and both countries had deepened their engagements in recent years, and expanded bilateral ties in diverse fields of cooperation.

“Ever-increasing economic and trade integration between Pakistan and China has made our two economies, increasingly interdependent,” he added.

He said that as the pilot and high quality demonstration project, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) played a pivotal position in the development agenda of Pakistan.

“After the success of its first phase, both sides have mutually agreed that second phase of CPEC would focus on social economic development, industrialization and modernization of agriculture with shared benefits.”

During the visit of President Dr. Arif Aliv to Beijing in March last year, the two countries agreed that agricultural cooperation would be included in the framework of CPEC.

Ambassador Haque said during the Second Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue held in Hainan in August last year, it was further decided to pay a special attention to production of high yield seed varieties, increase using crops productivity besides addition of agro-based industry, agricultural technology, fast pest control and setting up of cold chain network.

He expressed the pleasure that the relevant ministries and the two embassies were working very closely to meet these goals, envisioned by the respective leadership.

Appreciating China’s rapid rise as the world leader in agricultural modernization, he said the last 40 years of reform and opening-up, enabled it to unleash a green revolution by reinvigorating its farmlands for increased productivity and ensuring the well-being of its farmers.

He said that Chinese miracle was worth-emulating for developing countries like Pakistan as it also endowed with fertile land, abundant water resources as well as four seasons allowing it to grow a variety of crops.

He informed that agriculture contributed almost 18% of GDP, provided employment for about 38% of total labor force in Pakistan.

“Pakistan is among top producers of wheat, sugarcane, rice and a variety of foods and one of the world’s largest sources of livestock offers great potential for major industries of Pakistan, he added.

On the occasion, he said that today’s launching of this platform had become more important, and momentous as Pakistan and China were celebrating 70-year of establishment of the diplomatic relations. The launching also marked one of the many activities that the two countries had planned this year, he added.

He extended heartiest congratulations to the China Economic Net and the China Machinery Engineering Corporation for taking important initiative for the establishment of this important platform.

“I am confident that this platform would synergize efforts for modernization, expansion of our industry and agriculture and injecting a new impetus to our ongoing efforts,” he added.