CM Murad calls for including Sindh mega-projects in CPEC
- By Web Desk -
- Dec 23, 2016
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday urged a visiting Chinese delegation to include mega-projects such as Keti Bandar and Karachi Circular Railways in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
A high-level Chinese delegation including Consul-General of China in Karachi Wang Yu, Director General External Security of China Liu Guangyuan, and members of the Chinese consulate called on him at the Chief Minister House.
The Chief Minister said that the Karachi Circular Railways and special Economic Zone Karachi are not included in CPEC but the provincial government has received assurances from the Chinese ambassador.
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He said that the federal government has also agreed to include these mega-projects as they can provide immense benefit to the people of Karachi.
“The prime minister has approved Keti Bandar Project for CPEC and has been included in the agenda of the forthcoming Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of CPEC projects,” he said.
The delegation assured him that they would recommend the concerned Chinese authorities to include the projects in CPEC.
CM Murad said that he would that be present in the JCC meeting on December 29 and would appreciate if these recommendations are supported.
The Chinese delegations informed that around 100 different Chinese firms would start work in Sindh under CPEC within a few months, and that necessary security arrangements be made for them accordingly.
Murad assured them and said that 4000 policemen have been newly recruited and trained by the Pakistan Army, and would also be assigned with the security of the Chinese working on CPEC projects.
“We are raising an special force of 2000 ex-army men for the security of Chinese,” he said.
He said that they have prioritized to provide security to all Chinese workers including those working with non-CPEC and non-government projects.
“I have already issued instruction to the police to provide special security to the Chinese workers working here,” he said.
He further said that over 800 Chinese were working on energy projects in Thar who have been given a force of over 150 policemen for security purposes.