China has agreed on a development plan to provide effective guidelines for the development of oil and gas industry in Pakistan under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
During 9th meeting of joint cooperation committee of CPEC in Islamabad last week, both sides expressed appreciation to the energy departments of the Pakistan and China for organizing expert panels to complete the Development plan for Pakistan Oil and Gas industry under the oil and gas sub-working group, in order to provide effective guidance for the development of the Oil and Gas Industry in Pakistan.
Both sides support the expert panels to continue maintaining communication and regularly improving the Plan, so as to promote the healthy development of the Oil and Gas Industry in Pakistan, official documents available with Business Recorder indicated.
During the meeting, Pakistani side proposed various projects to be undertaken under this plan. These include finalization of feasibility study on South North Gas Pipeline Project; upgradation of Pakistan Refinery Ltd Karachi; Coal to Liquid Engineering Plant based on Thar Coal at Thar Sindh, and Thar Block-VI for Coal gasification to Fertilizer projects.
During the meeting, deliberation also held on industrial cooperation. Documents showed that a team of Chinese experts was sent by China International Engineering Consulting Corporation (CIECC) for an industrial diagnosis of Pakistan. The expert team provided intellectual and technical support to the industrial and SEZ development in Pakistan and their work achieved good results.
Both sides hoped that the two sides set up a long-term mechanism to deepen China-Pakistan industrial cooperation.
Both countries also gave high attention to the Rashakai Nowshera, Allama Iqbal Faisalabad and Dhabeji, Thatta SEZs, for which the development work will start soon. The Chinese side hoped the Pakistani side to install external infrastructure facilities, introduce targeted preferential policies, and provide "one-window" service in the SEZ at an early date.
The Chinese side encouraged the participation of competent Chinese companies in the bidding process of the Dhabeji SEZ that will soon be started.
Pakistani side paid high priority to the upgrade of Pakistan Steel, and the Chinese side recognized the importance of this project to the Pakistani side.
Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) and Donghua Steel have signified their willingness to participate in the project. They hoped that companies from the two sides maintain close communication for an early settlement of related issues and push for substantive progress as soon as possible.
JCC appreciated the activities of China-Pakistan Young Workers' Seminar Camp. Four seminars have been held since the project was launched and these activities have helped to boost the technical exchanges and people-to people connectivity between Chinese and Pakistani workers.
The All-China Federation of Trade Unions and Ministry for Planning, Development & Reform of Pakistan will sign the MoU of Cooperation for Further Strengthening the Worker's Exchanges between the two sides. Pakistan side informed that special incentive package is at final stage of preparation and will be shared soon.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019