ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday appointed Khalid Mansoor as his Special Assistant on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Affairs.

According to a notification issued by Prime Minister Office, this appointment will be in honorary capacity. The fresh appointment comes after resignation of Asim Saleem Bajwa. 

 “Khalid Mansoor Sahib welcome and may Allah be your supporter,” PM’s Special Assistant on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill announced on his tweeter account. Khalid Mansoor will run the CPEC Authority affairs as reportedly Chairman China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority (CPECA) Lt Gen (retired) Asim Saleem Bajwa stepped down from his post on the completion of his two years tenure.

However, it was not clear yet whether he has resigned or he was asked to relinquish the post.

Neither Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Asad Umar nor the ex-Chairman CPEC Authority himself mentioned anything about what led to the development. Interestingly, in October last year when Asim Bajwa resigned as Special Assistant to Prime Minister, he had tweeted, “I requested the honourable Prime Minister to relinquish me from the additional portfolio of SAPM on Info & broadcasting. He very kindly approved my request”. But this time no such announcement was made by him.

The Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiative in a statement said that the Prime Minister has appointed Khalid Mansoor as his Special Assistant on CPEC Affairs. Mansoor brings with him over four decades of experience working with multiple organizations in energy, petrochemicals, and fertilizer industries. He is expected to lead the second phase of CPEC which will focus on industrial cooperation.

In his couple of tweets Asim Bajwa said, “I bow my head before Allah Almighty for giving me an opportunity to raise & steer the important institution of CPEC Authority as one window for all CPEC projects, charting the future direction. Wouldn’t have been possible without full confidence & support of the PM & his Govt,”. In another tweet he said, “The course is set for future progression of CPEC, this journey will go on. My best wishes to Kahlid Mansoor sb, who is fully equipped to take it forward. CPEC is life line for Pakistan; it will transform us into a progressive and fully developed country InshaAllah,”.

Meanwhile the federal minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar also tossed two tweets on the matter saying “I want to thank @AsimSBajwa for his services in moving CPEC forward and playing a vital role in broadening of the CPEC scope with a transition to second phase of CPEC. His dedication and commitment was a source of great strength and support.”

“I welcome Khalid Mansoor to the team as SAPM for CPEC affairs. His vast corporate experience, with extensive work with Chinese companies and his direct involvement in leading some of the biggest CPEC projects makes him an ideal person to lead the next phase of CPEC,” he further tweeted.

Lt Gen (retd) Bajwa was appointed as CPEC Authority chairman back in November 2019, and five months later, in April 2020, he was appointed as special assistant to Prime Minister on information and broadcasting. However in October 2020 he has resigned as Special Assistant to Prime Minister.

It is also to worth mention here that the Federal Minister for Planning and Khalid Mansoor were colleagues in Engro. “Mr Mansoor has extensive experience of working with Chinese companies and has a deep understanding of joint ventures, project development and execution with Chinese partners,” the Planning ministry statement said.

“Mr Mansoor is a well-known business leader and has served as President of Overseas Chamber of Commerce of Industry (OICCI). He has also worked closely with international financial institutions, like the World Bank, IFC,MIGA,OPIC,ADB,DEG,OFID as well as Chinese financial institutions such as China Development Bank, China Exim Bank,ICBC,Sinosure etc, the statement added.

The scribe his contacted the Federal Minister for planning for his comments but his cell was not responding. Similarly Brigadier (Rtd) Attique of the CPEC Authority media team was also contacted on his whatsapp and cell number but it was off.

A source privy to the development told The Nation that there were several issues related to moving out of the Chairman CPECA. The entire information regarding CPEC was so secretive and not being shared with the stakeholders, the source said. The date for the Joint Coordination Committee of CPEC meeting was announced on social media but majority of the stakeholders were unaware of the meeting, the source informed. There was lack of coordination among the ministries and CPECA, the source said.

Even CPECA was overstepping its authority and was making changes to the Joint Working Groups minutes of the meeting without the knowledge of the concerned ministries, the source maintained. Unfortunately no CPEC JCC meeting was held under the outgoing Chairman CPECA, therefore no new projects was initiated during last two years.