Under socio-economic development Program, China to build 58 schools in tribal areas and 30 hospitals in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, along with 10 Agri-labs

PESHAWAR: Chinese government has approved construction of 58 schools in erstwhile Fata and 30 hospitals in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing said on Saturday.

“Our forefathers belong to the region now known as the northern areas of Pakistan. Hence it is our top priority to develop these areas,” Jing said addressing on national seminar on Friends of Silk Road.

He underscored the need of peace and stability in the region so that Chinese firms execute dream project of linking Quetta, Chaman to Gwadar and Peshawar to Kabul and onwards to Kazakhstan through railway tracks.

Pakistan and China are working on 10 agriculture projects, Ambassador Jing said, urging Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to come up with proposals to establish the 10 agriculture labs in the country through Planning Commission and Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC).

Jing said K-P would play a vital role to make the CEPC dreams come true. Peshawar would be the gateway to the central Asia in the region and in near future the rail tracks from Karachi to Peshawar would be upgraded along with the new rail systems, he said.

Chinese ambassador signed the cheque of Rs2 million for scholarships for the students of UoP.

Ambassador Jing guaranteed 30 scholarships for UoP faculty after thorough process of academic credentials and scrutiny.

Meanwhile addressing the gathering K-P Governor Shah Farman called upon the HEIs to rise to the occasion to meet the global demand of mineral, agriculture and technology sectors.

He stressed that his priority is to take universities to serve students, society and industry needs through the fast track procedures and no relaxation will be given to institutions lagging behind this venture.

He urged the Chinese ambassador to give boost to value addition of local mineral industries through establishment of manufacturing and marketing labs at the raw material sites.

Pakistan China Institute Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed congratulated senior journalist Amjad Aziz Malik for China Window Centre establishment and highlighting China-Pakistan friendship and collaboration through culture centre.

He lauded the continuous Chinese government support for Pakistan in FATF, Kashmir cause and UN Security Council and pledged the same from people of Pakistan on Tibet and Taiwan and other issues on global fronts.

Senior Minister Muhammad Atif Khan said that 20 billion rupees are being invested to promote the tourism industry in the province but Private sector has to come in building infrastructure. With integrated approach of all the key stakeholders, including local communities, home department and academia, businessmen one can develop the tourism in the country, he said.

Atif called upon the Chinese ambassador to help promote tourism in Pakistan.

K-P Board of Investment Chairman Hassan Daud Butt said that a new time line of exponential growth will be witnessed through next year after completion of Havelian, Thakot and Raikot highway and with 24-hour opening of Karakoram Highway.