ISLAMABAD, July 20: Pakistan and China have formed a task force on implementation of a MoU for construction of an economic corridor between Silk Road city of Xinjiang and Gwadar, Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning and Development, said here on Saturday.
The minister further informed that the said task force would meet in Islamabad in August.
Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission, Xu Shao, would lead the Chinese delegation at the task force meeting. Mr Iqbal, who signed the agreement together with Mr Shao during the recent visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would lead the Pakistan side to review implementation of the agreement.
The strategic value project has been estimated to cost $18 billion requiring construction of a number of tunnels is to be built through Khunjerab Pass in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The minister told newsmen that the task force would review development since the signing of the agreement on July 5, and would take decisions according to the terms of reference of the project implementation.
A number of surveys, including seismic surveys, would be carried out by experts from both the countries. “We have to finalise the project in one year,” he added.
He said that the prime minister has approved alignment of the motorway between Lahore and Karachi.
“The project would be completed in three years and would serve as a parallel trade corridor. The government plans to complete the six-lane each motorway on a fast track basis, and the National Highway Authority has been instructed to initiate the process,” he said.Mr Iqbal further said that the prime minister has approved construction of motorways between Karachi and Hyderabad as well as Pindi Bhattian-Lahore and Hasanabdal-Mansehra on the basis of BOT.
Source: Dawn
Looks like good news Pakistan, but Pakistan really must talk to China regarding the plight of Muslims in Xinjiang province in China, namely the Uighur Muslims. They are banned from fasting in the month of Ramadan year after year!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/03/china-restriction-ramadan-xinjiang-uighurs
If we are truly an Islamic nation we must find this unacceptable.
So let me understand this. China imports virtually NOTHING from Pakistan. It sells all of its junk to Pakistan. It also has a sweetheart deal to ship it’s junk from China to Europe via Gwadar for virtually no cost. It even kicked out the Singapore Ports Authority who was running Gwadar.
So all Pakistan gets is an influx of Chinki trinkets and a highway……. this is awesome. You’re just trading one master for another. 40 years down the line, the JeI will be cursing China just like it was loving USA in the 1970s.
This is absolutely hilarious
Atleast some welcomed news and hopefully improve the lives of our brothers in Xinjiang.
The givernment of Beymaan Shareef needs to give Pakistani Afwaj total support to clear the snake pits thrown into our pure land by the dirty Indians.
Clear the TTP and BLA and other terrorist areas and build Pakistan and return Pakistan to its glorious revolution.
Pakistan Manzil Nehin
NIshan-e-Manzil Hain
Bomb man,
Don’t think too much it is not in your means.
Are you so spiteful because India has sid it will send another 50,00 rapists sorry soldiers to the Chin-Gay Hind border.
What are you worried about the growing Chin-pakistan relationship.
The Silk Route has existed for centuries and Pakistan of the past be it Mughal or other Khorasani Islamic Empire, or Bhudd or Jain has had a great relationship with China.
It has always been there.
Lots of INDIAN asses on fire, rape capital of the world HINDOGSTAN