The Senate Special Committee on Projects of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has expressed serious concern over slow progress as well as no timeframe for completion and inauguration of development projects under the CPEC. The committee asked the Ministry of Development and Reform to give concrete information on the CPEC projects with groundwork, progress and timelines in next meetings instead of providing open source information.
The committee met with Senator Sherry Rehman in the chair at the Parliament House on Friday. The committee discussed the progress on the 18th JCC meeting held in Beijing, industrial zones and development projects in Gwadar. During the briefing on projects of CEPC, Sherry Rahman and other members raised questions about the timeline and new agreements with China under phase-II of the CPEC, while the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform could not give satisfactory answers.
An official of Board of Investment (BOT) told the committee that the agreement on Rashakai Economic Zone has not been signed so far between Pakistan and China. She said BOI has settled some conditions with a Chinese company so far.
"Why is the committee not being apprised of the details of the projects? We come across more information in the newspapers compared to what's imparted to us during the committee meetings. It is the ministry's responsibility to address the queries of committee members, they have serious reservations that need to be heard and responded," former Senate opposition leader Sherry Rehman said.
She expressed reservations as neither the timeline nor the terms and conditions of the CPEC projects are furnished by the government. Saying that nothing can be kept hidden from a parliamentary committee, the chair said "We are leading delegations into China, and China is asking questions. It is asking about the progress being made on the CPEC projects and here we are, kept in the dark by our government."
The senator expressed concern on communication gaps. She said a general understanding among Pakistani people, especially regarding Special Economic Zones (SEZs), is that China would single-handedly make CPEC work. She suggested, "It would be better if Pakistan did at least half the work here and takes road shows to China to attract investors. We need the jobs and growth generated by this opportunity. Our inability to coordinate responses and streamline frameworks or build consensus should not stand in the way of momentum."
Taking the climate impact of the CPEC into consideration, the chair asked when the issue of cleaner and greener technology would be included in the list of Pakistan's strategic objectives. "There has been no mention of it despite the fact that Pakistan is the seventh most vulnerable country to climate change," Rehman said.
Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Khusro Bakhtyar told the committee that a total portfolio of CPEC is $49 billion including $28 billion for ongoing projects and $ 21 billion for energy projects.
He said the previous government has budgeted allocation for CPEC projects under Public Sector Development Programmes (PSDP). He said the PTI government has prioritised the projects and funds for these projects would be allocated in coming budget-2019-20. He said the previous government did not focus on Gwadar but now the government is going to groundbreaking of Gwadar International Airport.
He said, "We are also going to start the construction of Western Route with local funding under PSDP." He said that the road would be constructed and work on Quetta-Zhob section at cost of Rs 65 billion would be started this year.
He said that ML-I Pakistan Railways project to be implemented in phases and its preliminary design is in final stage. He said that Eastern Corridor (Sukkur-Hyderabad) section would be constructed through BOT mode. He said that joint study on traffic density and all weather opening of Thakot -Havelian section is under process.
About the progress on socio-economic development cooperation, the minister said six areas of cooperation included agriculture, poverty alleviation, education, medical treatment, water supply and vocational training. He said that China would give $ 1 billion grant to Pakistan for development projects for three years. He said that most of the projects would be launched in less-developed areas of the country. He said that fast track projects would be completed in one year and reaming to be completed in two to three years.
He said 300 MW power plant is in the phase of tariff determination. He said that JCC encouraged the Joint Working Group on Energy to carry out joint studies on the current power status, future needs as well as the potential of power market in Pakistan.
An official of National Highway Authority (NHA) told the committee that 90 percent work has been done on Thakot - Havelian Road and this project would be completed within four to five months. CPEC project director Hassan Daud Butt also briefed the committee on development projects.
The meeting was also attended by Senators Muhammad Usman Kakar, Nuzhat Sadiq, Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh, Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi, Muhammad Akram, Aurangzeb Khan, Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shah, Samina Saeed, Sitara Ayaz and Muhammad Javed Abbasi.
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