Nawaz to form ‘China Cell’ to execute projects

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said he would set up a ‘China Cell’ in his office to supervise all development projects to be executed with Chinese cooperation in Pakistan.

He said the cell would be of specific nature – overseeing and pursuing the execution of such development projects to steer the country out of the present issues.

Informing reporters about his visit, the prime minister said he had held very fruitful meetings with the Chinese leadership, including President Xi Liping and Premier Li Keqiang.

He said they had held hours’ long meetings with the Chinese corporations and companies over the energy and infrastructure issues and they too sensed that Pakistan was taking extraordinary interest in these projects.

“I ask them to form a task force, we have constituted one to be headed by federal minister Ahsan Iqbal while our hosts also formed the similar one. We want the completion of such projects at the earliest,” he added.

Citing the level of commitment during his previous tenure, the prime minister said that they had track record of completing the motorway while on the other hand, the GT road was yet to be completed.

He also urged increasing the current trade volume of Pakistan with China which stood around 12 billion dollars.

He regretted that the steps which were required during the last one decade had not been taken and reiterated that tough steps should be taken to address the issues, as Pakistan was currently facing law and order situation, energy crises and other issues.

The prime minister, referring to delay in execution of 969MW Neelum-Jhelum hydro power project, observed that it was put on the back burner during the last three decades.

“Nobody has ever thought about it, as they only sat idle with fingers crossed,” he added.

The prime minister said those responsible should be held accountable for showing such slackness towards the important power project of national interest.

He said in order to tackle such complex issues, they would have to take tough decisions in the larger national interests.

The country did not require such civil servants or concerned officials who had not been pushing forth the completion of development projects, rather the fresh talented blood should be injected through civil service “who have missionary zeal” and realisation of the significance of such projects, he emphasised.

Nawaz observed that they should have no hesitation in bringing such lot who could plug the gap and desire to work only for the cause of the country.

About the Pak-China trade corridor, Prime Minister Nawaz reiterated that it would bring change in the socio-economic uplift of the countrymen and the whole region.

He said steps would be taken for turning the Gwadar into a trade hub and termed the upcoming cooperation in the energy and infrastructure between both countries as a new era of “ever expanding multifaceted ties”.

He pledged to further explore the avenues of cooperation for the mutual benefits of both friendly countries.

Nawaz said they would make efforts to improve the infrastructure at Gwadar port, and to bring it at part with Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore.

The prime minister said the Chinese companies willing to work in Pakistan over hydro-power projects would be facilitated as well, adding that he had also talked over the prospects of introducing mass transit systems, in Karachi and Lahore and running of high speed trains.

Terming the use of alternate energy projects as an integral part of the government’s policy, the prime minister said he had held successful and threadbare discussions with the Chinese leadership.

He also noted that the 60 per cent of Pakistan trade was routed through Guangzhou region.

Nawaz said after signing of Karach-Lahore Motorway, the implementation of the projects would take place at the earliest to benefit the people living in all parts of the country, besides Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

He said he was fortunate that he was playing his role in promoting Pakistan-China relationship.

He said he had promoted their ties with China during his last two tenures in the government and resolved to strive for the same in 2013.

The prime minister every political party in Pakistan had the same passion and accorded highest priority to push further the bonds of friendship with China.

Regarding the recent killings of Chinese mountaineers in Gilgit-Baltistan, the prime minister said both sides had expressed their deep regret over the unfortunate incident, however, such sporadic incidents would not harm their friendship.