MCC employs 2,000 people for Saindak Copper-Gold Project in Balochistan; Official informs Baloch Media Delegation

BEIJING: A 15-member Balochistan media delegation recently concluded its 10-day visit to China, where they paid visits to Chinese enterprises and took a tour around famous sites in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Many Chinese enterprises have made investments in Balochistan, including Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd (MCC), China Power International Development Ltd, it media counterpart Economic Daily and China Economic Net (CEN), a major Chinese economic news portal.

The tour is part of the efforts of the Chinese Consulate in Karachi to promote Balochistan media’s understanding of China, particularly with regard to China’s rapid development in the past 30 years and tremendous achievements in poverty alleviation as well as impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects undertaking in Balochistan, according to a report of CEN.

Chinese businessmen keen to invest in mines, minerals

While welcoming the delegation, Cui Jun, CEN editor-in-chief, introduced programmes produced by CEN and broadcast in Pakistan, such as CPEC TIME in Urdu aired on PTV, and Belt & Road – Face to Face dubbed in Balochi.

The delegation acknowledged the contribution of CEN in facilitating media exchanges between China and Pakistan, timely reporting of the CPEC projects and promoting export of Pakistani products to the Chinese market through its news and programmes.

The two sides held discussions on media development and transformation.

Cui introduced the experience of CEN. The delegation expressed the hope to work closely with CEN in the future to grasp the trend of media integration and to work together to promote bilateral economic and trade ties and China-Pakistan friendship.

Apart from seeking media cooperation, large projects in Balochistan invested by Chinese enterprises are also major concerns of the delegation. Saindak Copper-Gold Project, located in the remote north-west areas of Balochistan, is a joint venture.

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To have a comprehensive knowledge of Saindak Copper-Gold Project, the delegation visited the headquarters of the MCC in Beijing.

During the meeting, the MCC official Wang Jicheng informed the delegation that in the past 17 years, Saindak Copper-Gold project has been dedicated to fulfilling its social responsibilities for the local community, and contributed a lot to the provincial and federal governments in revenue and taxes.

It has employed over 2,000 Pakistanis, with 85% being Baloch, and built infrastructure such as road, hospital, primary school, water and electricity supply system etc for the adjacent villages.

The living standard of the local community has been dramatically improved since the company took over the project. Above all, close bonds between the Chinese workers and Baloch people have since then been established and blossomed.