Pakistan needs to reframe its regional connectivity push
May 25, 2021 Share
On April 8, the top U.S. diplomat in Pakistan visited the Chinese-operated port of Gwadar the first such visit by an American official in 15 years. The move appears to be part of a campaign by Pakistan to promote its regional connectivity agenda and simultaneously signal that this effort isn’t solely wedded to China and its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The U.S. official’s Gwadar visit comes after a public address delivered in March by Pakistan’s powerful army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa in which he stated that while the BRI-linked China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is “central” to Pakistan’s economic vision, seeing Pakistan exclusively through the prism of CPEC is “misleading.”
May 25, 2021
ISLAMABAD: Federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the formation of a committee for reviewing the ban on Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), special visa package for Chinese related to the CPEC project besides being briefed on electoral reforms, ARY NEWS reported.
Sharing decisions taken by the 226th meeting of the cabinet during the incumbent tenure, Fawad Chaudhry said that it was most meetings by any government as previously 23 meetings were held in PML-N tenure while no cabinet committee meetings being held in PPP tenure.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan lauded the economic team over surpassing the economic growth target. “The economy is now moving towards stability,” he said as the government projected a nearly four percent growth rate for the outgoing year.
China in discussion with third parties including Afghanistan on CPEC extension: Zhao Lijian
China has dismissed Indian claim that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is passing through a disputed territory.
Responding to a question during his regular briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the CPEC is an economic initiative that targets no third country.
He said China has stated its principled position on Kashmir issue many times.
The spokesperson appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks about the CPEC during a recent high level meeting, who said the maga project will bring economic progress not only to Pakistan but the entire region.
ISLAMABAD, May 25(Gwadar Pro)―According to sources, since the beginning of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), around 1100km long road network has been completed while 850 km is under construction. The new motorways and highways are now built on Public-Private Partnership Policy.
According to the world Economic forum, Pakistan has been ranked with a better road network than Iran, Russia, Bangladesh, Vietnam and many others. The country is likely to further improve its ranking and quality significantly with the construction of new mega projects under CPEC.
The development of road projects under CPEC and National Highway Authority (NHA) will not only improve the ranking of the country, but it will also enhance the quality of the road network, transportation and logistics as well.