No CPEC project suspended or delayed: COPHC chief

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has made major progress in the energy-related projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as nine out of a total of 22 power projects have been completed to meet the country’s energy requirements.
These new projects have contributed 5340 MW of electricity to the main grid, helping meet the country’s vital needs for industry, agriculture, and domestic consumers. Out of a total of 22 projects, another eight are near completion and would pump in an additional 4470 MW of electricity to the national grid. Another five projects are in the planning and implementation phase.
The federal government has expedited the pace of work on different power projects initiated under the CPEC.
Meanwhile, a top Chinese official involved in the CPEC projects in Pakistan has denied media reports and statements by some Pakistani lawmakers that work on the multi-billion dollars infrastructure and energy programme has been delayed.
“It is true that COVID-19 had some negative impact on some projects but I can tell you that on CPEC projects, not a single CPEC project is suspended or delayed,” Zhang Baozhong, Chairman of the China Overseas Ports Holding Company (COPHC), which operates Gwadar port, told a foreign news agency in Gwadar last week.
“In fact I am happy to report that many projects have already been completed ahead of their scheduled time frame, including the Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute at Gwadar, at a cost of $10 million, that would be handed over by the end of June instead of by the end of the year,” Baozhong added.
The Chinese official said Beijing is “very serious” about the completion of CPEC projects as per agreed upon timelines, including a new Gwadar International Airport.
“Recently, Nong Rong, the new ambassador of China to Pakistan, especially visited Gwadar and held meetings with contractors at serious note,” Baozhong said. “He seriously instructed all contractors to manage to speed up the work on the project and try to complete the projects at the anticipated timeline.”
The COPHC chief said China had invested more than $500 million on the development of the port and social sectors. – TLTP