Pakistan and China to sign MoU soon over cooperation to eradicate poverty

Islamabad: Pakistan and Iron Brother China will soon ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on ‘Cooperation for Poverty Alleviation’ in the field of commerce.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong discussed the MoU with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Poverty Alleviation and social Protection Senator Dr Sania Nishtar here.

The Ambassador and the SAPM explored avenues of collaboration in poverty alleviation, said an official statement.

It added that the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division (PASSD) of the Government of Pakistan and Ministry of Commerce of China were soon entering an MoU for cooperation.

The MoU was approved by the Pakistani Federal Cabinet on October 27, 2021 and will be inked soon between China and Pakistan. “The meeting discussed the implementation arrangements of the MoU,” said the official statement.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners. Under the MoU, both the countries will enhance cooperation and exchange of experience, especially in the context of poverty reduction, through leveraging potential for commerce. The Chinese side is led by Ministry of Commerce and Pakistan’s side by PASSD.

The Chinese side will take advantages of commerce in connecting urban and rural areas, linking home and abroad, matching production and marketing, focus on the exchange of experience on developing poverty alleviation industries, creating employment opportunities, promoting the domestic and foreign trade in poverty-stricken areas, and thus helping to eradicate poverty in the strategy of precise poverty alleviation and eradication, to help Pakistan expand its vision and innovate its method for poverty alleviation, promote better economic and social development in Pakistan.

Both countries will also establish a communication mechanism to exchange poverty alleviation experience in the field of commerce under the framework of China Pakistan Joint Economic and Trade Committee. Also, regular exchanges will be organized on the implementation mechanism, management mode and main effectiveness of commerce-based poverty alleviation to promote programmatic cooperation.

Dr Sania Nishtar appreciated great achievements and experience of China in poverty alleviation. “Poverty Alleviation is the priority of the government of Pakistan. This MoU will enable Pakistan to learn from China’s experience in poverty alleviation and to disseminate lessons from Ehsaas, which is a multi-sectoral programme for alleviating poverty”, said Dr Sania Nishtar.

The Chinese Ambassador was accompanied by Guwen Liang, the Second Secretary; Fengguanlei; and Chenyongpei from the Commercial section. Muhammad Ali Shahzada; Secretary PASSD, Saman Muneeb, Director China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs also joined the meeting.