The 7th
meeting of Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of Pakistan China Economic
Corridor (CPEC) was held here on Tuesday to review and approve the
various development projects in the mega development project. Federal Minister
Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal and his Chinese counterpart
jointly headed JCC meeting. Around 150 high officials from Pakistan and China
attended the meeting along with the Chief Ministers of all the provinces and
Prime Minister AJK. The representatives of private sector including trade and
industry chambers also participated in the meeting for the first time.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan
Iqbal said that 7th JCC in Pakistan is a milestone towards realizing the CPEC
and noted that people of Pakistan valued the multifaceted cooperation extended
by government and people of China to Pakistan. He said that CPEC now entered
into the first phase of its completion and 7th JCC is of historical
significance to finalize the long-term plan of project. “The long-term plan
will give new dimensions to bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan”,
he believed. Ahsan Iqbal said that long term plan would expand the scope of
cooperation in various new areas including cooperation in social sectors along
with the economic fields. Along with infrastructure development and
upgradation, education and health sectors would also be targeted for their
improvement and upgradation under CPEC.
About private sector’s
representation, Minister said that it has been given to private sector in 7th JCC
meeting to take on board private sector in this project, which is a game
changer not only for Pakistan but for entire region.
Minister announced that both
countries would organize exchange of trade and business delegations on official
level to speed up the pace of project. He underlined the need for expansion in
the administrative structure and scope of cooperation in CPEC.
Speaking about Gwadar, gateway of
CPEC, Ahsan said that projects in Gwadar are of utmost importance for the
people of Gwadar and national development. He said that CPEC’s energy projects
are fast heading towards their completion. The establishment of special
economic zones would now start after 7th JCC, which is the hallmark of this
project. “Cooperation in industrial sector would ensure transfer of technology,
knowledge and skills to Pakistan, he remarked.
Ahsan Iqbal opined that CPEC is also
helping to promote knowledge based economy in Pakistan, which is the need of
new age in the world.