China would give $1 billion grant to Pakistan for early harvest projects of socioeconomic development and agriculture sectors under the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, it is learnt. According to the sources, China would provide this grant for early harvest and pilot projects during the next three years. Both the countries have agreed on the second phase of the CPEC.
Most of the projects relating to socioeconomic development included vocational training particularly in the provinces, capacity building of hospitals and pilot projects of agriculture sector.
Project Director/Coordin-ation CPEC Hassan Daud Butt told this correspondent that Chinese experts team relating to health, agriculture and other sectors held a meeting at Ministry of Planning under the chairmanship of secretary planning on Tuesday. He said that both side discussed potential projects and way forward for speedy implementation of this important cooperation.
A 13-member Chinese delegation is in the town to discuss implementation of this newly introduced sector under the CPEC. The experts are meeting with the federal and provincial governments' officials and experts to identify pilot projects and their implementation mechanism.
Hassan Daud Butt said that Chinese expert team would also hold meeting today (Wednesday) to discuss the development projects. He said that the representatives of the provinces including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan would also participate in the meeting.
He said that Chinese expert team would visit the provinces and hold meetings with high officials of provincial governments to discuss various early harvest projects under the second phase of the CPEC. He said that the expert team would also visit vocational training centres and hospitals of the provinces.
The project director said that after visiting of the provinces and Gwadar city, the expert team would hold meetings on March 7-8 at Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform to prioritise the projects for short and long terms. He said that the representatives of the provinces would also participate in the meetings.
According to a press release issued by the ministry, the government of Pakistan is committed to strengthen the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and build closer China-Pakistan community of shared future in the new era. The CPEC vision has been expanded based on the priority and the government's vision for making it a true gateway for progress and prosperity under the slogan of "One Corridor, Many Doors."
Minister for Planning, Development & Reform, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar said that government of Pakistan is keen to enhance scope of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the domain of socioeconomic development and agriculture sector keeping in view the potential of growth in these sector.
He expressed these remarks while meeting Du Zhenli, head of Chinese delegation, comprising experts from socioeconomic development field here at the Ministry on Tuesday. Secretary Zafar Hasan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of China Zhao Lijian, and Project Director Hasaan Daud were also present on the occasion.
The minister said, "We have come a long way in defining a sustainable way forward in the win-win cooperation framework between China and Pakistan." The federal and provincial governments are making all-out efforts to realise the planned CPEC projects as soon as possible, he added.
The minister said that in the second phase, scope of CPEC is being enhanced in the domains of social sector development and agriculture sector as both the sectors hold a huge potential of growth. He said that government is interested to start pilot projects in these areas with the support of China on priority basis.
He said, "Our focus is on high impact, low gestation and low cost projects in less developed areas of Pakistan." He said that priority will be given to projects in the field of vocational training, job creation, agriculture and health.
He hoped that experts on both side will be able to firm up the proposed projects and set up deliverables for the next meeting of the leaders in April next to further strengthen the economic cooperation.
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