CPEC Moving forward: 10th JCC on CPEC to be held today

ISLAMABAD – The 10th meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be held today (Thursday). The JCC is likely to take up the framework agreement for Industrial Cooperation (IC) and the financial close of the 300MW coal fired power plant at Gwadar.

The one-day meeting, to be held via video link, will be co-chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Asad Umar and Vice Chairman National Development and Reforms Commission (NDRC) of China Ning Jizhe.

The JCC is the highest decision-making forum which periodically reviews progress on ongoing CPEC projects and give approval to new projects. Usually the JCC meeting is held once or twice a year.

The JCC was started in 2015 and so far nine JCC meetings had taken place. During PTI government only one JCC meeting was held in November 2019. During past 22 months the JCC meeting could not be convened.

There are nine joint working groups (JWGs) under the JCC including energy, transportation infrastructure, Gwadar Port, Planning, industrial cooperation, socio-economic development, agriculture, science and technology and international cooperation.

Secretary Planning would brief the meeting on Long Term Plan (2017-2030) for its evaluation and possible update, official source told The Nation. The source said that on Wednesday till late night both the sides were finalising the agenda of the 10th JCC meeting.

The source said that framework agreement for Industrial Cooperation (IC) between Pakistan and China is on the agenda of the JCC. Pakistan and China had already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on industrial cooperation and now the 10th JCC is likely to give its nod to the framework agreement, the source said. Special Economic Zone Rashakai will also be discussed in the meeting.

In communication infrastructure the focus is on Chakdara to Chitral Expressway and Chitral to Shandur Road. Other proposed projects for the meeting are Peshawar-D.I. Khan Motorway, Swat Expressway Phase-II, Dir Expressway and CRBC.

In Gwadar the source said that main project is 300MW Gwadar coal-fired power plant. The meeting would try to announce the date for the financial close of the project. Similarly for Gwadar free zone policy would be discussed.

Progress on Gwadar Eastbay Expressway and new Gwadar international Airport will also be discussed in the meeting.

Under socio-economic, the source said, work on five projects has been completed while six are in progress. In the meeting LOE for two more projects will be signed, the source added.

Similarly in agriculture sector short, medium and long-term projects identified by the China-Pakistan JWG would be discussed in the meeting. Beside action plan for pest control may also come to the meeting.

The provision of security to the Chinese nationals working in Pakistan is also on the agenda of the JCC meeting. It is worth to mention that the JCC-10 meeting on CPEC which was earlier scheduled for July 16, 2021 but was postponed after nine Chinese and five Pakistani nationals were killed in an accident near Dasu project area.