Pakistan, China resolve to intensify work on CPEC projects despite Covid pandemic: Asad Umar

Flanked by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Affairs Khalid Mansoor, the minister said the expansion in the CPEC projects is in progress.

He was updating the media about the minutes of the meeting of Joint Coordination Commitee on CPEC.

Though China restricted travel of their citizens, but all Chinese associated with the CPEC projects returned to Pakistan last year and resumed work.  

The minister told media that officials from the both coutries had signed many pacts regarding CPEC, saying a joint working group on IT had been decided to be established soon.

He was of the view that there's a competition of IT going on between the US and China as the latter transformed its economy with the development with 5G technology.

"Though Pakistan's economy is largely based on agriculture, but we need to get benefit of the Chinese technology."

Umar said China is taking lead in digital payments portals worlwide and a Chinese subsidary is alraedy working in Pakistan.

"Pakistan's IT industry is also making progress speedily," he said, the country has recorded 47 per cent increase in IT exports that had touched the mark of $2 billion recently.

He hoped that exciting opportunitis would arise in the IT setcor as a good number of youngsters are associated with the IT education and profession in Pakistan. 

He said another MoU was signed between Chinese port-- NINGBO-- and the Gwadar port authority to enhance trade, adding another MoU was inked between the Karachi Coastal Development and a Chinese company to develop Karachi port and its adjacent areas.

Both sides also signed pacts on eight points concering agriculture, he added.

"China is also donating Balochistan solar power eqiupment and media equipment to Pakistan," the minister said.

He further said both sides also emphasized to focus on ongoing infrastcure, motorways and energy projects.

Umar said Pakistan had received Chinese invetsments other than Special Economic Zones (SEZ), adding the increased Chinese investment is also creating more security envoirnment.

Discussing Dassu hydel power project, he said the culprits would be taken to task and CPEC projects would continue despite security challenges.

"The CPEC has been a continuous irritating factor for our neighbour. The irritation is not only limited to physical moves, but also with 5th generation hybrid war, fake news on social media," he said adding but the entire leadership and public of both China nd Pakistan are committed to work together on CPEC. 

To a question on supposed Chinese insistence of providing security itself for China's workers, Umar said the issue had not been raised at all. "They realise and have a concern about security issues but you received a message few days back that workers had remobilised and work had restarted," he said.

SAPM added at this point that the Pakistan Army had given a comprehensive security briefing, which had been relayed to the Chinese embassy.