CPEC Cabinet Committee Greenlights Western Route Project
The Cabinet Committee overseeing the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is set to launch a significant project along the Western Route in Balochistan in the near future.
This decision was reached during a meeting presided over by Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar, Minister for Planning, Development & Reform. Attended by committee members and federal ministry secretaries, the gathering prioritized the construction of the Western Route, with an impending project in Balochistan.
Minister Bakhtyar announced that the committee has chosen to advance the Sukkur-Hyderabad section of the Eastern Route via a built-operate and transfer (BOT) mechanism. The National Highway Authority will handle design, feasibility, and contract awarding, slated for completion in 2019. This initiative is anticipated to generate savings of approximately 2 to 2.5 billion dollars.
The committee also engaged in an extensive discussion on Pakistan's Railways' ML-1 project. To expedite the project, an implementation committee led by the Railway Minister was formed to assess financial savings, project phases, and scope within two weeks. The final decision will be guided by the committee's recommendations.
Regarding CPEC's socio-economic development initiatives, Minister Bakhtyar revealed that Chinese experts had visited Pakistan. A finalized project list encompassing agriculture, education, health, poverty alleviation, water supply, and vocational training will soon be shared with China. An agreement on socio-economic development, with an initial phase cost ranging from $400 to $500 million, is in the pipeline.
Emphasizing the significance of agricultural cooperation within CPEC, the Minister highlighted the establishment of a joint working group. This group will convene in April to accelerate modernization of Pakistan's agriculture sector and explore export opportunities in areas like meat production, food supply chains, processing, livestock, fisheries, seed quality enhancement, irrigation systems, and technology transfer.
Mr. Bakhtyar underscored the government's commitment to industrial cooperation within CPEC. An agreement for the Special Economic Zone at Rashakai, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is scheduled to be signed by the 25th of this month, with groundbreaking slated for April.
Furthermore, the Cabinet Committee gave the green light to the CPEC Business Forum to facilitate interactions between the government and the business community. This move aims to bridge the gap that has existed since the inception of CPEC, allowing leading businessmen from various sectors to act as intermediaries.
Finally, Minister Bakhtyar assured that funds allocated for CPEC projects remained dedicated to their intended purposes, with no diversions. Instead, allocations for other initiatives in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) were re-appropriated to support sustainable development goals.