Parliamentary Committee on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has called upon the government to immediately convene a meeting of all the provincial governments to finalise ToRs of Special Security Division (SSD). A meeting of the CPEC presided over by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed was briefed by the Ministry of Interior on security of CPEC and the various steps taken to protect Chinese nationals and Chinese projects.
The committee was informed that a 15,000 dedicated strong force, comprising over 9000 regular soldiers of the Pakistan Army plus 6000 personnel of the Para-Military Force would comprise the SSD that has been entrusted with the duty of protection of Chinese personnel and projects under the CPEC. Ministry of Interior further informed that SSD is not a standalone arrangement. It is interlocked with the Provincial Police.
All provincial governments were called by the Federal Government on terms of deployment of SSD. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed also presented the report of the Parliamentary Committee's visit to Gilgit-Baltistan and said that Gilgit-Baltistan is the entry point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from the Chinese province of Xinjiang.
Hence, Gilgit-Baltistan must be given top priority in promoting development in various sectors. In this context, the Chairman directed that a meeting would be especially held by the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC on Gilgit-Baltistan issue where the Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan will be invited to interact with the Ministry of Planning and Development so that CPEC projects of Gilgit-Baltistan are pushed swiftly and substantially.
Briefing the Committee on the role of the Ministry of Commerce, the Additional Secretary, Policy and Planning, said that the Ministry is negotiating Phase-II, China-Pak Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA), which covers goods, services and investments. Using Pakistan China FTA Phase-II, the Tariff Reduction Modality (TRM) can be linked to guided investment from China into the manufacturing sector in the CPEC.
There have been various efforts of investments from China in auto, textiles and electronics in Pakistan. The FAW Dongfeng group is manufacturing pickups and vans. They have also set up a new plant to manufacture 1300cc cars. Haier is assembling laptops and mobile phones.
There is also a new joint venture in knitwear in Faisalabad, the first in the textile sector from China. Pakistan has to position itself to attract investment from China in labour intensive sectors eg textiles, garments, foot wares and paper, as rising labour costs have led to a decline in China's competitiveness.
Responding to different queries and questions regarding Survey Report on Wind Power Generation Capacity in Balochistan and KPK, the representative of Ministry of Water and Power stated that Alternative Energy Development Board has boosted the efforts on the already taken steps and measures for the development of wind and solo energy in the subject provinces. Wind and solar resource assessment is already being carried out in Balochistan and KP along-with other parts of the country through Energy Sector Management assistance programmes of the World Bank.
Under the programme, a total of 12 wind measuring masts are being installed in different parts of the country where potential for wind power generation has been identified through a satellite data analysis so that renewable energy projects can be promoted.
The Secretary Planning also briefed the Parliamentary Committee on the visit to China of the Ministers for Planning and Development and Railways who are there to prepare a comprehensive plan for the up-gradation and dualisation of Pakistan railways as part of CPEC from Karachi to Peshawar with the project being worth for 8 billion dollars.
The meeting was attended by its members, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, MNA, Dr Ibadullah, MNA, Mr Ghous Bux Mahar, MNA Mr Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, MNA, Senator Sardar Fateh Muhammad Hassani, Senator Lieutenant General (Retd) Salahuddin Tirmizi, Senator Talha Mehmood, Senator Shibli Faraz and Secretary of the Committee, Mr Khalid Mahmood.
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