ISLAMABAD: The Sub-Committee of the Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) observed that it was important to address concerns of the local people where projects are being proposed because local ownership of the projects is highly necessary.
The 1st (in-camera) meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC was held at Parliament House on Thursday under the convenership of Noor Alam Khan. The Sub-Committee was constituted to scrutinise the socioeconomic development projects under a $1 billion grant by the Chinese government to launch pilot projects in the selective districts of the country to reduce poverty.
The committee further observed that there is a greater need for establishing the strongest coordination among federal and provincial/regional departments, so that everyone could be on board about the development activities taking place under the socio-economic development projects, and the people of less-developed areas fully own the projects implemented under the CPEC framework.
The Committee further recommended that while keeping ground realities in view, we need to look into our requirements. Pakistan needs to learn from remarkable Chinese experiences and focus on the capacity building and enhancement of skills, rather than only imparting and installing technological infrastructure.
This is how our manpower can become self-sufficient in all areas of socio-economic development. Moreover, while highlighting the importance of Balochistan and to further scrutinise the projects, the Committee decided to convene a meeting by tomorrow (Friday) specifically related to projects for Balochistan under the CPEC framework.
The committee was briefed by additional secretary, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, special joint secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, chairman, Higher Education Commission, rector, Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, and concerned from provinces and regions regarding the projects completed and under progress in provinces and regions covering six areas of socio-economic development i.e. agriculture, medical health, poverty alleviation, education, vocational education, and water supply schemes.
The Committee remarked that the socio-economic development projects under $1 billion grant by the Chinese government were envisaged to alter the socio-economic landscape of the country, eliminate the prevailing sense of deprivation among marginalised provinces and regions by ensuring shared prosperity and bringing positive changes in the lives of the people.
It is, therefore, undeniably important to propose need-based projects having tangible end results and ensure maximum adherence to timelines, so that Pakistan could make the most out of this grant. The meeting was attended by MNAs Mehnaz Akber Aziz, Raza Rabbani Khar, and Zahid Akram Durrani.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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