CPEC moving ahead, Government tackled all challenges related to CPEC, Secretary Planning informed JWG

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has addressed the challenges being faced in the execution of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and the multibillion-dollar strategic initiative is progressing smoothly, said a top Pakistan official on Friday.

Co-chairing a meeting of the CPEC Joint Working Group on Planning, which was held through video conference, Ministry of Planning Secretary Zafar Hasan said CPEC was progressing satisfactorily and a lot of challenges related to it had been addressed.

The meeting was held weeks before the scheduled meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of CPEC, which would review overall progress on implementation of the Chinese strategic initiative.

The planning secretary said under Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision “we should deepen people-to-people contacts, cultural exchange programmes, promote tourism and mutual visits from both sides”.

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The secretary emphasised that provision of affordable housing was the top priority of the government. In that regard, the Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority has been set up to fast-track housing projects and reduce the supply-demand gap in the country, he added.

Hasan apprised the meeting that the long-term plan entailed promotion of cross-border and coastal tourism, adding that both countries should work together for promoting tourism.

Speaking through the video conference, the secretary noted that PM Imran during his recent visit to China had suggested enhancing fisheries trade between the two countries.

“In this regard, we can enhance cooperation in establishing fish meal factories, vessels monitoring system and fishing traceability to prevent illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing,” he said.

The secretary suggested increasing focus on the oil and gas sector. Both sides agreed that interventions in the sector could be taken up following the finalisation of an oil and gas development plan for Pakistan, which was at an advanced stage of completion.

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National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Deputy Director General Gao Jian agreed to continue the exchange programmes for the training of fishermen.

The Chinese side agreed to continue supporting Pakistan in technical and vocational training in order to help produce skilled manpower including upgrading the vocational training institutes, vocational training exchanges and capacity building of trainers.