A meeting of Joint Working Group (JWG) on Gwadar under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) umbrella would be held on Thursday (November 15) to discuss projects relating to Gwadar and Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
According to sources, the meeting would be held through video conference at Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms. The representatives of Balochistan and other provinces, Secretary Board of Investment and other JWG members would participate in the meeting. The meeting would be co-chaired by the Secretary Planning, Development and Reforms. Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing would also participate in the meeting.
The meeting would discuss key projects including electricity projects, water supply, clean drinking water, New Gwadar International Airport, Gwadar East-Bay Expressway, readiness status of Gwadar Port & Free Zone, Gwadar Expansion of Multipurpose Terminal including Breakwater and Dredging Project, Gwadar Livelihood Project and Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan.
The sources said the JWG would also discuss social sector projects including Pak China Friendship Hospital and China Pakistan Vocational Training Institute and other projects.
The group would discuss progress on ongoing development projects in Gwadar and industrial zones in Balochistan as well as in Gwadar. Eighth ministerial level meeting of Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on CPEC would be held during the last week of December in China.
When contacted, project director/CPEC coordinator/focal person CPEC Hassan Daud Butt confirmed the meeting of JWG on November 15. He said that Planning Commission had almost completed its home work for the coming JWG meeting. He said Gwadar was the most important element of CPEC which guaranteed regional prosperity and well-being of the people of Balochistan.
Pakistan and China have agreed to initiate the first phase of development of SEZs under CPEC and a consensus to this effect has been developed at senior officials meeting on industrial cooperation, Butt revealed, adding that with the establishment of SEZs, new industrial units would be installed in the country which would help increase trade activities across the country.
Answering a question, he said the next JCC meeting would be held in the last week of December.
Comments
Comments are closed.