'Pak-China ties must go beyond economic zones'

ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Khusro Bakhtiar on Thursday said industrial cooperation between China and Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should not be limited to special economic zones only.

“There will be industrial relocation in Pakistan under larger industrial cooperation between Pakistan and China,” he said while talking to media in Islamabad.

He said the ongoing projects under the CPEC would be completed within the stipulated time.

Khusro Bakhtiar said progress would also be made on the early harvest projects agreed under the CPEC framework. He said prime focus of the government was to revamp economy, create job opportunities, and increase manufacturing base in Pakistan.

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The minister said ML-1 project for up-gradation of railway tracks from Karachi to Peshawar would be executed. “This will increase Pakistan Railways’ speed up to 160 kilometers per hour and ensure effective cargo transportation,” he said.

He said the government would take Gwadar as a standalone project to explore its full potential as 80 percent of the world cargo passed through maritime routes.

Khusro Bakhtiar said it had also been decided during his meeting with Chinese delegation last days that a new sub group in the Working Groups of the CPEC would be formed.

“Now the group titled socio-economic development has been formed to look for cooperation in education, health, skill development, housing, agriculture, and other sectors,” he said.

The minister said Pakistan provided connectivity to various regions and the CPEC should be opened for other countries for investment. He said this would send a message that Pakistan was open for business. He said two focal persons had been appointed for third-party investment.