Chairman of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority, Lt. Gen. (R) Asim Saleem Bajwa, has provided an update on the ongoing CPEC projects throughout Pakistan.
In a recent meeting held at the Parliament House, CPEC Authority Chairman Lt. Gen. (R) Asim Saleem Bajwa and Secretary of the Planning Ministry, Mathair Niaz Rana, reassured the Senate Special Committee on CPEC, chaired by Senator Sherry Rehman, that the Planning Ministry would maintain its leading role within the CPEC Authority. They also announced that the ML-1 project, with an estimated cost of $7.2 billion, was set to significantly boost the rail sector's share in the overall transport landscape from 4% to 20%.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had greenlit the ML-1 Railway Project, a monumental undertaking that involves the dualization and upgrade of a 1,872km railway track from Peshawar to Karachi. This project marked a significant milestone in the second phase of CPEC.
Furthermore, Chairman Bajwa highlighted that the Orange Line train project would soon be accessible to the public, and work on the western route was progressing well. He also noted that the Rashakai Special Economic Zone (REZ) was on the verge of inauguration.
Addressing concerns about potential changes in the CPEC Authority's leadership, Senator Sherry Rehman questioned whether the Planning Minister would be replaced by the CPEC Chairman and if new powers were being vested in the CPEC Authority. She stressed the importance of maintaining transparency and strong ministerial leadership in CPEC projects.
However, Chairman General Bajwa and Secretary Planning clarified during the Senate CPEC committee meeting that there were no plans to alter the leading role of the Planning Ministry in the CPEC Authority.
Senator Sherry Rehman emphasized the significance of Balochistan and Gwadar in the CPEC initiative, stating that their development would have a positive impact on the entire country. She called for unity among provinces and stressed the need for transparent and inclusive development initiatives.
The committee learned that 19 CPEC projects had been completed, 28 were in progress, and 41 were in the pipeline. Chairman Bajwa assured the committee that all projects would adhere to their timelines as agreed upon during the signing of agreements.
In conclusion, Senator Sherry Rehman urged the acceleration of work on various projects related to power generation, agriculture, science and technology, and communication infrastructure, highlighting CPEC's pivotal role in regional development.