Tag Archives: Gwadar

Gwadar Eastbay Expressway completion likely by October end

ISLAMABAD – Gwadar Eastbay Expressway the most important mega connectivity and road infrastructure project worth $168 million is likely to be completed this month.

 

The completion of the Gwadar Eastbay Expressway being constructed under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would trigger a major jump in the development of the Coastal City, a senior official of Gwadar Development Authority told media on the mega project status.

He said the project was envisaged under the Early Harvest Scheme during the first phase of CPEC. The project was part of a wider $1.1 billion development package for the city and Port of Gwadar.

While elaborating the project details, the official informed that Gwadar Eastbay Expressway was a six-lane urban motorway. “The road will connect Gwadar Port with Gwadar Free Trade Zone and Makran Coastal Highway. Currently, more than 92 percent of construction work has been completed,” he added. Expressway, he said, would improve the trading potential of Gwadar Port, whereas the Expressway aimed at meeting the transportation requirements of the Port.

Economic and commerce experts said that Gwadar Eastbay Expressway would prove to be a major step in utilising the full potential of Gwadar Port for trade, especially the way it would help connect Gwadar Port with Gwadar Free Trade Zone.

 

Senior Economist Dr Fazl Shah said this would increase the flow of business transactions across the Port. “Gwadar Free Trade Zone is currently in the attraction of investors across the globe. In this context, the completion of Gwadar Eastbay Expressway this year will certainly turn out to be a major development,” he added.

Moreover, the Expressway would connect Gwadar Port with other cities across the country, said Akram Sheikh, infrastructure expert at a leading real estate firm.

He said the significance of Gwadar Eastbay Expressway was further highlighted as it connected Gwadar Port with Makran Coastal Highway. The Makran Coastal Highway was a 653km national highway that extended from Karachi in Sindh to Gwadar in Balochistan. “This will certainly pave the way for businesses across Pakistan to capitalise on the rich business potential of Gwadar. The Expressway will create a business boom in Gwadar,” he said.

It may be mentioned here that the completion of Gwadar Eastbay Expressway carried a lot in its lap for the Coastal City. It would not only help Gwadar Port to fully capitalise on its trading potential but would also make Gwadar a hub of investment for businesses across Pakistan

Gwadar free zone exempted from provincial taxes for 5 years

QUETTA: The Balo­chistan government has exempted Gwadar Free Zone from provincial taxes for five years and decided to set up special economic zones and new industrial estates in the province.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the cabinet on Friday.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, provincial government spokesman Liaquat Ali Shahwani said a detailed discussion was held on the Reko Diq case and the government’s moves in this regard. He said the cabinet had decided to develop mineral resources of Balochistan.

The cabinet also decided to set up a modern laboratory to analyse minerals.

“Despite having precious natural resources, the province lacks this important facility and depends on laboratories of other provinces for this purpose,” Mr Shahwani said.

He added that in order to provide better health facilities, improve the performance of doctors and paramedical staff and stop strikes in the health department and government-run hospitals, the cabinet approved the Balochistan Essential Health Services Bill, 2019, which would be tabled in the next session of the Balochistan Assembly for approval.

Long-delayed Gwadar’s master plan is finally ready

Pakistan’s port city, Gwadar, is a vital part of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which aims to increase regional trade and development. Yet, for the last two years, its master plan could not be finalised.

The blueprint was worked on and re-worked several times, while bureaucrats came and went. No final decision, it seems, could be reached, until now. In a major development this week, Pakistan’s cabinet has decided to approve the Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan before Eid holidays.

This is no small feat. The master plan, prepared by a team from China, provides a long-term layout for growth and development. According to officials privy the developments, the impetus was an upcoming visit by the parliamentary committee on CPEC and the prime minister’s recent visit to the United States. There, while addressing the Pakistani American community, the premier advised them to invest in Pakistan. For which he added, a one-window operation was being set up at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat to facilitate expatriates.

“It is now just a matter of days for the master plan to be approved,” says Nadir Baloch, the coordinator of the Gwadar Master Plan. Baloch, who has been working on the project since a few years now, admits that previously there were many hiccups which slowed down the pace of work. These included a lack of understanding between Pakistani and Chinese officials and the different bureaucratic styles in the two countries.

“In order to finalise the plan, we organized a workshop this year to get inputs from the business community, politicians, academics and the civil society,” Baloch adds, “We wanted to make the plan more people-centric and compatible to the high-tech future demands.”

The final draft has now been sent to the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), a subsidiary of the First Harbour Engineering Company (FHEC). Once reviewed by the company, it will be returned on August 8 and then presented before the governing body of the Gwadar Development Authority. “The final plan will be presented to the cabinet before Eid holidays,” says Baloch.

The Chinese and Pakistani sides took some time to understand each other’s local system, rules and regulations and working mechanisms. Then, there was the issue of land. Over 70 per cent of the land earmarked in the Gwadar Master Plan was owned by private individuals or companies.

Once approved, the master plan will lay out a way forward for the industrial development in the city and attract foreign investments. The plan also suggests ways to protect the environment.

Even when the plan is finalised, the port city’s development is a long-term process. “According to our master plan, it will take almost 20 to 25 years to develop just the port,” Naseer Khan Kashani, the chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) told Geo.tv in April.

 

Yasir Habib Khan, a renowned journalist who reports regularly for China Economic Net, Global Times, and China Today.

Gwadar Free Zone set to win tax relief

ISLAMABAD.: The National Development Council (NDC) has decided to grant tax concessions to business units that would be set up at the Gwadar Free Zone under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — an issue that has remained in limbo for the last three years over fears that the move would adversely impact other economic zones of the country.

The NDC — a body formed to give a formal role to the military in economic policymaking — directed the prime minister’s finance adviser to notify the sweeping concessions, sources in the Ministry of Finance told The Express Tribune.

The meeting of the forum, presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan and with army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in attendance, was held on Thursday.

The sources said finance adviser Hafeez Shaikh had assured the NDC that the matter would be resolved soon.

But the adviser will require a report giving the nod to the move from an inter-ministerial committee, which has been looking into the matter for quite some time.

The sources said that because of the NDC’s intervention, the matter would soon land in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet for approval.

Earlier, Shaikh had instructed the Ministry of Finance to fast-track the process but the matter remained unresolved.

Progress on CPEC projects has come to a grinding halt since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has come to power.

There has been little headway in the second phase of CPEC and the prime minister on Friday chaired a meeting to address the issues delaying the setting up of the CPEC Special Economic Zones.

Gwadar Port is described as the most significant strategic pearl in China’s plan of expanding its influence in the Arabian Sea — a move that India sees as a threat to its hegemonic designs.

China is developing the Gwadar port as a strategic and commercial hub under its ‘One-Belt One-Road’ initiative that promises shared regional prosperity. CPEC is one of many arteries of the ‘One-Belt One-Road’.

The Gwadar Free Zone is part of the overall port city’s development plan. The original Gwadar Port Concession Agreement was signed between the Gwadar Port Authority and the Port of Singapore Authority, which the ECC approved in 2007.

In February 2013, the China Overseas Ports Holding Company Limited (COPHCL) took over the operations of the port from the Singaporean company. The concession agreement included tax holiday for both the Gwadar port operators and the businesses being set up there.

The previous government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had notified a 23-year tax holiday for the port operator but the issue of similar concessions for industrial units remained pending.

The first phase of the Gwadar Free Zone was completed in January 2018 and the light industries that are being set up there are waiting for a notification to import construction and raw material, according to an official working at the free zone. The COPHCL, however, did not officially comment on the matter.

The ECC took up the issue in February this year but deferred making a decision because of a difference of opinion among various ministries.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs proposed that the income derived from the Gwadar Free Zone should be exempted from tax for 23 years, starting from the date of notification. It also suggested that the contractors and the sub-contractors of the free zone should be exempted from paying income for 23 years. Besides, it also proposed giving tax relief on the profit on debt by foreign lenders of the free zone for the same period.

According to another proposal, all visiting foreign and local ships and fishing vessels at the Gwadar Port and business established in the free zone should also be exempted from paying import duties.

The ECC directed the Board of Investment, the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Law Division and the Federal Board of Revenue to review the proposals and provide their feedback to the committee.

The sources said the FBR was not comfortable with giving sweeping tax concessions to the business units and sub-contractors.

Instead, it proposed that a business unit should either avail a 10-year tax holiday available under the Special Economic Zone Act 2011 or under the Export Processing Zone statutory regulatory order.

The FBR officials argued that the country was suffering an annual loss of Rs970 billion because of tax concessions and exemptions given to various sectors. They said new concessions could not be notified without amendment in the law.

At the ECC meeting in February, Prime Minister’s Commerce and Investment Adviser Abdul Razak Dawood had also expressed similar views about instrument of tax concessions.

Dawood wanted that the Gwadar Free Zone should only be granted concessions offered to other economic zones.

However, the Gwadar Free Zone does not fall under the Special Economic Zone Act of 2011. It is being set up under a special arrangement with Beijing.

New International Gwadar Airport 3D design

The New Gwadar Airport is a joint venture between Pakistan, Oman, and China. The Sultanate of Oman provided USD17.5 million for the airport project, whilst China plans to invest USD662 million for land development, seaport and airport works in and around Gwadar. Pakistan plans to develop the new facility on a 4000-acre land plot 25km away from the existing Gwadar International Airport. The China Communications Construction Company has been awarded the USD246m project, which is expected to be complete within a 30-month period.

Gwadar International Airport serves the free trade port city of Gwadar, on the southwestern coast of Pakistan. Gwadar is one of the few planned cities in Pakistan (others being Faisalabad, Jauharabad and Islamabad, which has been developed from scratch under an urban master plan. The airport handles domestic and regional services from Pakistan International Airlines. Pakistan plans to construct a new Gwadar Airport 25km from the existing facility. The new airport is scheduled for completion in 2018.

Jun-2018. China’s Acting Ambassador to Pakistan Zhao Lijian reported the design for New Gwadar Airport is completed. Mr Zhao said construction works for the airport development project will commence by the end of 2018.

Gwadar International Airport 3D Design

 

Gwadar International Airport will create lots of opportunity for businessman and open the new industry to work on. We encourage all CPECB active member to explore the opportunity in building New Gwadar International.

New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA)Project

Project Description: Construction of New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), along with allied facilities for the new airport that will be capable of handling a combination of ATR 72, Airbus, (A-300), Boeing (B-737) and Boeing (B-747) for domestic as well international routes.

Responsibility:

  • Proposing Agency: Aviation Division
location Gurandani, 26 KM east of Gwadar City, Balochistan
Province Balochistan
Estimated Cost (US $ Million) 230.00
Executing Company / Sponsors Civil Aviation Authority
Financing Chinese Government Grant
Project Progress Update
  • Design and work plan agreed
  • Grant Agreement signed in May 2017
  • Construction work to start in 2018

 

It is a large airport in Balochistan, Pakistan, as it operates to cater mainly to the population of Gwadar. Pakistan International Airlines, the main airline flying out of the airport, connects Gwadar to Karachi, Turbat, Quetta, Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait City, Riyadh, Tehran, Mashhad, Bahrain and Muscat. Other airlines had recently launched their flights to Gwadar and currently had been doing pretty well due to successful performance. These included Oman Air, which flew to Muscat using ATR 42 aircraft, and Airblue, which started twice-daily flights to Karachi through its joint venture partner JS Air.

Pakistan anticipates Gwadar becoming a regional economic hub and, in preparation for this, has issued a directive for the development of New Gwadar International Airport. For this purpose, the CAA has earmarked 3000 acres (12 km²) of land 26 km northeast of the existing airport. The new airport is expected to cost $250 million. It will be given international status and operate under the open skies policy. In the meantime, there are plans at the existing airport to further facilitate the movement of wide-bodied aircraft.

Developing Gwadar under CPEC main concern

Present government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan must ensure continuity and timely completion of all development projects and schemes related to the Gwadar Port and over $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Sustainable funding and security of these two game-changer projects should be the priority area of concern for the government. With a well developed CPEC and a fully functional Gwadar Port, Pakistan will become a key player in the Persian Gulf region and serve as an energy corridor for Central Asia, South Asia and western China. Gwadar Port will prove a milestone in promoting regional trade between Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan and Central Asian States. Gwadar Port is being developed into an international port, and the CPEC will connect it with the CARs and would generate massive economic activity in the region.

Strategically located Gwadar Port has greater scope and tremendous potential to emerge as distribution and logistics hub in the region. It is because of its geo-economic importance that Gwadar was highlighted as the future port of global investors at an international conference on ‘free zones, science and technology parks, enterprise zones’, held in Brussels in 2007. Work on the CPEC is currently underway. The CPEC has the potential to usher in a new era of economic progress and prosperity for both countries benefiting the whole region as well. This corridor is expected to be a ‘game changer’ not only for Pakistan and China but also for the whole region.

Gwadar Port in Balochistan is essential part of CPEC, which involves construction of highways, railways and energy pipelines connecting western China with Pakistan and the Persian Gulf. After construction of the proposed rail, road and pipeline projects between China and Pakistan, Gwadar Port will handle most of the oil tankers to China. Gwadar has the most advantageous location for an alternative port in the region and it could handle mother ships and large oil tankers and capture the transit trade of the Central Asian Republics (CARs) as well as the trans-shipment trade of the region, according to the Ports Master Plan studies of Asian Development Bank.

The experts argue that Central Asia cannot be commercially served, as most of the ports in the Gulf are located on the wrong side of the Gulf. Gwadar Port becomes a viable proposition for being located in the vicinity of both the Gulf States and Iran. According to one estimate, a fully functional Gwadar Port could earn handsome revenue of $40 billion a year. The port is expected to be a higher revenue earner in terms of foreign exchange for the country, as China, Afghanistan, Central Asian states and Russia would also be using the port where huge cargo ships up to 0.25 million tons could anchor.

CPEC will convert Gwadar into a regional hub of business, trade and commercial activity that will provide a solid base for the economic progress of Balochistan. The opening of Free Trade Zone, and Export Processing Zone (EPZ) will open the doors for development of small, medium and large scale industries generating revenue for the government and providing profitable avenues for both the skilled and non-skilled workforce in the province. The potential investment areas in Gwadar include fish processing, crabs processing, cold storage, ice factories, sea-water reverse osmosis desalination plants, shrimp farming, boat building and naval architecture institute, oil storage tankers, ferry service for Karachi Ormara-Pasni-Gwadar and up to Oman and Dubai.

After the formal handover of the free trade zone to China, all business affairs of the Gwadar Port in Balochistan are currently being carried out by Chinese authorities. Last year, Pakistan formally handed over the 2,281 acres free trade zone of Gwadar Port to China on a 43-year lease. Pakistani government has already declared Gwadar Port a free trade zone for the next 23 years. China is deeply interested to pour huge investments in Gwadar, which is located at the mouth of the Gulf and close to the Strait of Hormuz. Present government has already declared that Gwadar Port would be developed on the pattern of Hong Kong, which is a model as to where the financial successes of Asia are headed. Being the builder, operator and financer of Gwadar Port and also being the biggest investor in the port city, China can play the role of a major driver of growth in Gwadar as it did in Hong Kong. Having a free market economy, Hong Kong is highly dependent on international trade. China’s share is over 35 percent in international trade.

Strategically located Gwadar Port can be converted into a regional hub of international trade. By virtue of its geography, Gwadar has greater potential, wider scope and brighter prospects to emerge as center of trade and commerce serving at least 20 countries in the Asian region. Gwadar Port is of immense importance not only for trade with CARs but also for the development of Pakistan. Of course, Gwadar has the potential to become a hub of major economic and commercial activities in the region. There is a high need for establishing roads and warehousing facilities at Taftan, Chaman and Torkham borders in order to make full use of Gwadar Port. The future scenario necessitates the establishment of a strong, well-coordinated and metalloid highway and road and rail network spreading across the province and interlinking the major commercial centres in Balochistan. The CPEC project is perhaps the answer.

Pakistan and China have discussed laying an oil pipeline from Gwadar Port to western China. The proposed pipeline, which is a part of CPEC, could be extended and connected with Iran, which has already offered to supply crude oil. In the proposed corridor, Gwadar Port is likely to become a major outlet for trade between the China, Central Asia and the Gulf region. China has already taken the operational control of Gwadar Port where oil shipped from Central Asia and the Middle East may be unloaded and transported overland to China through the proposed trade corridor. Gwadar is poised to emerge as a hub port providing facilities of warehousing, trans-shipment, transit and coastal trade and the commercial and industrial openings for international export-import trade. On one hand, the two countries are working on laying the strategic Havelian-Khunjerab railway track in the difficult terrain of the Karakoram connecting China with Pakistan from Gwadar in Balochistan. On the other hand, there are proposals to connect the Pakistan Railways with the trans-Asian railway network that will link the two countries through rail networks. This will facilitate a trade to the CARs, Russia and China and beyond.

 

Gwadar: the economic gateway : Hassan Daud

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s maiden visit to China defined a new chapter in bilateral relations between both countries and delineated the future progress of CPEC.

Alongside the signing of multiple MoUs and agreements on diverse areas of cooperation, the prime minister’s address at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee and visit to the First China International Import Expo further deepened the all-weather friendship between China and Pakistan from a strategic and long-term perspective.

The presence of Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan in the PM’s delegation is a strong testament of the fact that the incumbent government is committed to the development of Balochistan, especially Gwadar.

Notwithstanding whether we are aware of CPEC, Gwadar remains a familiar name for many. Long before CPEC came to the fore, Gwadar had etched its mark in the geostrategic annals of the region. Gwadar’s strategic location and its deep-sea port in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean provide a strategic gateway to the world’s most sought-after markets. Located right in the middle of the straits of Hormuz and Malacca, Gwadar has the potential to be the most ideal port for countries in the region whether it is for trade purposes or simply shipment transits.

With its potential to be the fulcrum of economic development in western Pakistan, the Gwadar Port is gearing up to become the hub of trade, industry and large-scale business activities. Future incoming investment – foreign and domestic – and increasing economic activities will not only transform the outlook of Gwadar, but will also positively impact the development of Balochistan’s remote areas.

The flurry of economic activities will generate revenue for Balochistan, enhance its GDP growth, and create massive employment opportunities in various fields. The foundation has been laid with the start of regular shipping services from Gwadar. Subsequently, this will lead to improvements in social sectors, such as education and health.

Overall, the importance of CPEC as a strategic alternative is immense. Leveraging the economic opportunities that it can unleash may trump its strategic significance and bring prosperity, peace and stability in the entire region.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar recently announced the government’s plans to broaden the scope of CPEC by including socioeconomic development and poverty alleviation programmes as well as third-party participation into the core focus areas.

As a key part of CPEC’s core focus, Gwadar is also prioritised by the government as a standalone project within the economic corridor. Similarly, it remained a key point for discussion during the PM’s visit to China and will be a vital concern during the upcoming meeting of the 8th CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC).

In accordance with the government’s plans, the development of Gwadar as a standalone project through sound and progressive planning will usher in a new chapter of a prosperous and green future within its local cultural character, and present an international gateway for prosperity. The good news is that Gwadar is soon going to witness a series of groundbreaking projects, including the New Gwadar International Airport, a vocational centre, the China-Pakistan Friendship Hospital and a host of socioeconomic uplift projects. In addition, the government is close to baselining the Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan that will set the course for it to become a well-planned urban city with business centres and trade hubs, generating a demand for the Gwadar Port in the national and international context.

Nevertheless, certain critical bottlenecks continue to hamper the smooth and swift development of the port and its surrounding areas. To start with, the provision of water remains a key issue. The current demand for water in Gwadar is around 6.3 million gallons per day (MGD) while the supply stands at 2.9 MGD, out of which 2.7 MGD is being supplied through the Ankara Kaur Dam and 0.2 MGD is being supplied by the China Overseas Ports Holding Company (COPHC) Gwadar.

However, both provincial and federal governments are cognisant of the provision of water to Gwadar’s people and are working towards enhancing water supply to around 12 MGD by 2020. Phase-I of the project entails a 67 kilometre-long water supply transmission line from the nearby Swad Dam to Gwadar city.

Furthermore, a 4-MGD desalination plant is being built by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) along with the 5-MGD Reserve Osmosis Sea Water Plant for Gwadar city, which has been included in the PSDP 2017.

With respect to electricity, Gwadar chiefly relies on Iran for its power needs through the 132kV high-voltage power distribution network that provides 100MW for the entire coastal belt. The current power demand for Gwadar city stands at 45MW.

With the gradual development of the port and the city itself, power demand will naturally increase. To address this challenge, a 300MW Gwadar Coal Power Plant will ensure a steady supply of electricity up until at least 2030. For the long term, more power projects that rely on indigenous and green sources of energy will be prioritised.

Once these bottlenecks are removed, the port city has the potential to attract foreign investment in the transhipment, petrochemicals, fisheries and tourism sectors. Industrialisation in Gwadar, being a major component of the city’s blue economy, is the key towards achieving economic growth and unemployment in the region. As per the plans to develop the port and a free-trade zone, the construction of industrial units is expected to be initiated next year.

Heavy industries – such as refining oil, assembling transport equipment, and processing building material – and light industries – such as fisheries, edible oil and other forms of food processing – can be set up in Gwadar if infrastructure and energy needs are met, and a long-term plan is chalked out for light industries that include raising the industrial level to form a value-added industrial cluster of the aforementioned products.

In Gwadar’s fisheries industry, the short-term and medium-term focus will be on fostering aquaculture. Gwadar’s fish and fish products are renowned for their quality around the world and more than 90 percent of Gwadar’s population relies on the fishing sector. That’s why, thanks to the port’s development and the advent of CPEC, fish from Gwadar are already being exported to Guangzhou and Xingjiang in China. However, this potential is being harnessed through the development of better processing units.

Gwadar is a jewel in CPEC’s crown. Therefore, it should be developed into an integrated city in the long run so that it can play its role as a regional leader and assume the functions of a regional city that serve the vast hinterland regions of Pakistan and our neighbouring countries. Once the port is completed by 2030, it is expected to have a considerable advantage over its regional competitors in terms of both hard and soft infrastructure elements.

SECP opens facilitation center in Gwadar

ISLAMABAD: SECP The registration of business is a primary need of investors and in order to meet this need, the SECP has opened a fully equipped and state-of-the-art facilitation center in Gwadar.

The SECP has taken many steps to facilitate the business community. The SECP is one of the pioneer government departments that has provided facility to local as well as foreign business community at their doorsteps in Gwadar Free Zone (GFZ) , said a statement issued by SECP here on Tuesday.

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a mega project, which is rightly considered a game changer, and it is very attractive for the local and foreign investors.

Being a vibrant and proactive organization, the SECP extends utmost facilitation to all investors and it is a matter of pride that the SECP registers a company within four hours of filing of complete documents. The registration of company within four hours is in line with the government’s initiative to provide ease of doing business in Pakistan.

The SECP has provided online and physical filing facility for incorporation of companies.

The standard documents, including Memorandum and Article of Association of various sectors are available on the SECP website.

The fee for online registration of a company is very nominal, i.e. only Rs 1,550. The fee for physical registration is Rs 3,000. The payment of fee can be made through credit/debit card.

The registration with Federal Bureau Revenue (FBR) is simultaneously made on registration of company and there is no need to visit the FBR to obtain National Tax Number.

Now there is no need to obtain digital signature for filling of documents. The SECP provides free of cost copies along with registration certificate of necessary forms/documents that are required by the company for opening of bank account etc.

The SECP recently introduced a new concept of limited liability partnership (LLP). It combines the flexibility of a general partnership and the advantages of limited liability of a company. It is very useful for the business community, especially for small investors.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2018

CPEC is economic future of Pakistan, reiterates COAS Gen. Bajwa

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has reiterated that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the economic future of Pakistan and its security shall never be compromised.

Inter Services Public Relations said Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan called on the Army Chief and discussed matters of mutual interest and regional security.

The Ambassador appreciated conduct of successful visit of Chinese Foreign Minister and support for CPEC in Pakistan.

The Army Chief reiterated that CPEC is eco future of Pakistan and its security shall never be compromised.