Pakistan-China Joint Cooperation Committee approves three Sindh projects under CPEC

BEIJING: Pakistan-China Joint Cooperation Committee in a meeting on Thursday in principle approved addition of three development projects in Sindh in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The projects are Karachi Circular Railways, Keti Bandar and Dhabeji Special Economic Zone, a Sindh government statement said on Thursday.

The JCC meeting regarding CPEC held in Beijing which was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah along with his cabinet colleagues.

Pakistan’s delegation led by Minister of Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal also included chief ministers of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The vice chairman of National Development and Reforms led the team of Chinese officials.

The JCC decided to include three crucial projects after a presentation by the Sindh chief minister and asked the government of Sindh to present a feasibility report within three months.

Due to the provincial government efforts, the federal government had approved the inclusion of the Keti Bandar and Karachi Circular Railway projects in the CPEC, and the Chinese authorities had also shown interest in revitalising the long-delayed KCR project.

The officials of the two countries held a meeting in Beijing yesterday and reviewed progress on various projects being carried out under the CPEC. The officials’ meeting also considered new projects to be added to the CPEC.