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India is biggest loser in Afghanistan, US confused over its fate: PM Imran

Gwadar: Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday said India is the biggest loser in Afghanistan and the United States is 'confused over the fate of Afghans after departure of forces'.

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India is biggest loser in Afghanistan, US confused over its fate: PM Imran
India is biggest loser in Afghanistan, US confused over its fate: PM Imran

"The neighbourers are making efforts to ensure political settelement in Afghanistan and for the purpose the talks with Taliban are also under serious consideration," the premier said while talking to reporters after inaugurating the first phase of Gwadar Free Zone and MoU signing ceremony at Gwadar.

The premier said he had spoken to newly-elected Iranian president about the affairs of Afghanistan, adding the regional situation is raising alarm bells as for as security is concerned.

Imran Khan said Pakistan had got clear evidence of involvement of India in Lahore's Johar Town bomb blast, adding the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan had got India upset because of their investment worth billions of US dollars. 

He said even theUS "is unable to sort out its new policy towards Afghanistan'.

Meanwhile addressing the inaugural ceremony, PM Imran said the future belonged to Gwadar emerging as the ‘focal point of development’ and ensuring prosperity for the entire country.

He said Gwadar would open up new avenues of opportunities for regional trade.

The prime minister who arrived in Gwadar on a day-long visit inaugurated the first phase of Gwadar Free Zone besides performing the groundbreaking of the its second phase spread at 2,200 acres and opening of three factories.

The prime minister said his vision of an emerging Pakistan was a steadfast nation which was committed to the prosperity of the country.

He said the government was focused on ensuring provision of basic amenities in Gwadar and Balochistan, particularly clean water and electricity to encourage industrialization.

He said the recently announced Rs 7.3 billion development budget for Balochistan by the federal government was historic, that aimed at uplift of the province and also to mitigate the longstanding deprivation of its people.

“No country can progress unless it mainstreams all its areas and ensure development across the board,” he said, adding that connectivity was one of the major component of the Balochistan package.

Imran Khan said the government was prioritizing development in far-flung areas of Balochistan, northern areas and rural Punjab.

The prime minister mentioned that Gwadar International Airport would encourage regional trade and boost economic activity.

He said one-window operation was in progress to facilitate the investors and urged upon the provincial governments to ensure proper servicing of investors since the subject moved to them after the passage of 18the Amendment.

Imran Khan thanked the government of China for launch of water and solar projects in Balochsitan, particularly Gwadar.

“Pakistan can benefit from its strategic location and also from the expertise of its friend China which is the becoming an economic power in the region,” he said.

He also mentioned the technical education provided by China to the locals of Gwadar, which he said, would prove greatly helpful as the foreign investment grew in future.

The prime minister mentioned several initiatives for the uplift of Gwadar including the university, employment under Kamyab Jawan Programme, and the upgradation of the equipment of local fishermen to ensure value addition to their catch.

He said the Prime Minister Office would regularly monitor the progress on the development plans initiated in Gwadar on a monthly basis.

The prime minister said regional countries had expressed interest in reaping the benefits offered by the Gwadar port.

In this scenario, he expressed concern over the law and situation in Afghanistan, which he said, was extremely important for the continuity of development.

Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan said the provincial government had been collaborating with the CPEC Authority to resolve the issues of customs. He drew attention to the problem regarding the relocation of locals along the Eastbay and mentioned that efforts were on for an amicable solution.

He said the Public Sector Development Programme for the current fiscal year covered the entire Balochistan and mentioned that the extension of Gwadar Hospital up to 200 beds, construction of the first university in Gwadar, border markets and uplift of villages were on the cards.

Chinese Ambassador Non Rong said the cooperation between the governments of Pakistan and China had led the several projects to see the light of the day. He said over the past eight years, the two countries accelerated their pace on several projects related to civic amenities, particularly clean water and solar plants.

He said Gwadar was a showcase of the “Chinese solution” for Pakistan’s development.

By taking a comprehensive way of development, Gwadar Port would turn into a business hub, he said, adding that China would continue to extend support for a shared future with Pakistan.

Chairman CPEC Authority Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa said the Gwadar Free Zone spread at 60 acres had been completed where 46 enterprises were operational.

He said now, the groundbreaking of the second phase at the vast 2200 acres starting today would usher in a new era of prosperity in Gwadar and in Balochsitan.

He mentioned that the personal interest of Prime Minister Imran Khan resulted in materialization of transshipment policy, Afghan transit policy, the framework signing and execution of border trade with Iran and starting work at Eastbay Expressway.

He said several significant development projects were in progress including the Gwadar International Airport and Vocational Institute to develop skills of the locals.

Bajwa said conspiracies were on the rise against CPEC, however the commitment of the government greatly helped thwart such challenges.

Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Planning Minister Asad Umer, Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal and Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi were present.

Earlier, the prime minister before landing at the Gwadar Airport took an aerial view of the infrastructure built at the seaport including the Expressway.

On his arrival at the China Business Centre Hall, he was given a detailed briefing of the South Balochistan Development Package. He held an interaction with the CPEC Workforce.

Moreover, seven regional countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Kenya and Qatar on Monday expressed their commitment for cooperation on the development of Gwadar.

With their respective ambassadors present at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the regional countries showed their support for the development of Pakistan’s port city.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on the occasion also witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding with the government of China for carrying out development projects in Gwadar.

The accords included the implementation agreement on setting up of 1.2 MGD desalination plant to resolve the shortage of drinking water for the residents of Gwadar.

Other agreements included China’s grant for solar generators for South Balochistan, and the groundbreaking of North Gwadar Free Zone and Enterprises.

Chinese investors attend ceremony through video-link

The Chinese investors through video-link from Shanghai showed the ‘Expression of Commitment for Investment’. Those who pledged to invest in Balochistan’s different sectors included Huang Weiguo (textile), Huang Daoyuan (prefabricated technology), Fang Hongyan (agriculture), Shen Jian (wool spinning), David Dia and Chen Yi (dairy processing) and Bao Dequan (textile).

The factories inaugurated on the occasion included chemical fertilizer factory, Gwadar Animal Vaccination factory and lubricant factory, besides the opening of Gwadar Tissue Plant Laboratory.

For first time Balochistan getting attention by any govt : PM

Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday said for the first time attention was being given to the Balochistan province due to its rich natural resources and manpower as its development was one of the government’s foremost priorities .

The provision of basic facilities, including network of roads, employment generation through industrial development and agricultural development was being ensured, he added.

The prime minister expressed these views while presiding over a briefing / meeting here about the progress of South Balochistan development package.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, federal ministers Asad Umar, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi and Zubaida Jalal, Special Assistant to the PM Dr Shehbaz Gill, National Security Advisor Dr Moeed Yusuf, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman  Lt Gen ® Asim Saleem Bajwa, provincial ministers and senior officers concerned were in attendance.

The meeting was briefed in detail about the progress of historic Balochistan Package under the government’s vision of special attention on the province.

It was told that the federal and provincial institutions were jointly monitoring the work on the development package and ensuring the completion of projects on priority.

The meeting was further informed that out of the total Rs 654 billion package, an amount of Rs 99.38 billion would be spent during the current fiscal year on transport, construction of basic infrastructure, provision and better utilization of clean water, agriculture and livestock, information technology, energy, trade and industry, manpower, education and other development projects.

Under the package, a network of 1,100 kilometers of roads was being constructed, which, besides facilitating the people in mobility, would also play an important role in transporting the agricultural commodities to markets, it was told.

 
 

 

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