The power sector & construction industry circles have demanded of the Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure 30 percent local participation in projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in his talks with the Chinese leadership during his upcoming visit to China.
They said the previous government had abolished this arrangement some three years back that led to massive unemployment in the sector. So much so, they added, the most experienced ones are jobless these days because of non-availability of projects within the country. Chinese companies, on the other hand, prefer their own engineering management on projects under the CPEC which should be restricted to top level management while rest of the manpower should be hired from Pakistan.
They put forward proposals to make Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to China effective and result-oriented. Prime Minister Imran Khan will make a three-day official trip to China in the first week of November. He is scheduled to meet Chinese president and high-level officials.
The PM is also expected to hold talks on economic and defence cooperation as well as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. During his three day visit from 3rd of November, the premier will also attend the Chinese International Import Expo 2018 in Shanghai.
They said there are a number of OGDCL and power sector projects which could easily be handled by our local companies. "We should limit Chinese firms to hold joint ventures with local firms as their sub-contractors and technology partners. Where there no international loan is involved, such bidding should be restricted only to local Pakistani construction firms. This is what Prime Minister should suggest Chinese leadership in his upcoming visit," they demanded.
They further pointed out that Advisor to PM on Commerce, Textile, Industries, Production and Investment Razak Dawood himself has an engineering background and needs to understand that economic revival of Pakistan could only be possible through supporting Pakistan's engineering industry. Without it, they stressed, the economic revival would remain a dream and young engineers would remain jobless in the country.
According to these circles, Pakistan should stop issuing labour visas to Chinese firms working on CPEC projects and they should be convinced to hire local manpower in order to revive the heavy construction industry of Pakistan. "Chinese firms should be restricted to procure construction machinery and products already available in Pakistan such as cables and steel etc.," they said.
They said the government should extend the status of industry to its heavy construction industry in order to take it forward as an economic revival without strengthening the construction industry is impossible. Over 100 allied industries are affiliated with this industry; they said, and added that it can contribute immensely to the national economy, generate revenue and create jobs in the country.
They have also suggested the government to constitute a task force while inviting professionals from top engineering firms and assigning them the task of how the government can revive the construction industry.
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