Most issues related to CPEC projects resolved: Planning Minister

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has told the Pakistan-China Relations Steering Committee that most of the issues related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects had been resolved.

The third meeting of the Pakistan-China Relations Steering Committee discussed various issues relating to the CPEC projects in power, infrastructure and industrial cooperation sectors.

Chairing the meeting, Asad Umar said a number of issues relating to CPEC, discussed during the last meeting, had been resolved as per the directions of the Committee, while some others were under process for approval of the relevant fora.

The Power Division informed the committee that the proposals for extension of the commercial operation date of six power projects were under process and the matter will be discussed in the upcoming board meeting of the Central Power Purchasing Agency.

The committee was informed that the Right of Way Issue (RoA) near Karachi of 660kV HVDC Matiari-Lahore Transmission Line had been resolved and power was now being evacuated through the transmission line.

The committee was also briefed on the 880MW Sukki-Kinari hydropower project. The chair directed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to resolve the operational issues being faced by the project on a priority basis.

The Ministry of Communications briefed the committee on the ongoing projects in the infrastructure under CPEC and said the re-alignment of Thakot-Raikkot is a critical component of the northern alignment.

The ministry also highlighted that a G2G technical committee has been formed for the project and the terms of reference of the committee have also been shared with the Chinese side for views and comments.

Asad Umar directed that a meeting should be convened soon under the chair of Planning Commission deputy chairman to discuss the financing modalities of the project.

The committee also discussed the issues being faced by the investors in different Special Economic Zones. The Punjab Board of Investment and Trade and the Khyber Pakktunkhaw’s Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) updated the committee on the individual issues of various investors.

The Sindh Investment Department said the developer for Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (SEZ) had been identified and the final approval would be granted soon.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CPEC Khalid Mansoor and National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf participated in the meeting. Besides, Planning Commission, foreign, interior, Railways, power, finance secretaries officials and senior officers of the ministries and divisions attended the meeting.