PM echoes timely completion of all CPEC projects during meeting with Chinese envoy

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to timely completion of all projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and termed it a transformational project.
Talking to the new Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong here on Wednesday, the Prime Minister affirmed the time-tested Pakistan-China all-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
The Prime Minister underlined the importance of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), relocation of industry, and enhanced productivity in the agriculture sector.
During the meeting, mutual support on issues of core national interest for Pakistan and China was reaffirmed.
The Chinese ambassador thanked the Prime Minister
for receiving him and assured that China will fully support speedy completion of CPEC projects as well as industrialization in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has underlined the need for cementing parliamentary contacts between Pakistan and China for further cementing bilateral relations.
Talking to Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong here on Wednesday, he said the present government is committed to take that exemplary relation to new heights.
He said Pakistan is proud of its all-weather unique friendship and strategic partnership with China.
Meanwhile, The Council of Common Interests (CCI) has agreed to launch a project worth Rs350 billion for next five years to control malnutrition and stunted growth among children in the country.
This decision was taken at the CCI meeting presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Wednesday. The chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan also attended the meeting, a press release issued by the PM Media Wing said.
The Prime Minister emphasised that energy issues carry a national impact and it is necessary that a consensus is developed among the provinces where a win-win result is achieved for the benefit of the people of Pakistan.
It was agreed during the meeting that 50 percent of cost to the tune of around Rs175 billion will be provided by the federal government and equal distribution to be made by provincial governments for 5 years.
The project titled ‘Tackling Malnutrition Induced Stunting in Pakistan’ will target 30 percent of the total population of the country with 15 million women of reproductive age group and 3.9 million children under the age of 2 years through nutrition interventions.
Keeping in view the importance of developing a consensus on energy issues of the country, it was decided that the next meeting of the Council will be called in the first month of next year to finalize issues related to costs of electricity, gas and fuel and also to resolve water related issues.
It was agreed that the federal government would provide for nutrition supplementary commodities, capacity building of new & existing healthcare workers, and research & monitoring while the provinces would contribute towards implementation through involvement of existing lady health workers (LHWs), community health workers, target population identification, programme management, institutional arrangement, evaluation and data sharing.
The CCI considered the request of the KP government for one-time permission to swap / substitute arrangement of one exploration block with another prospective block within the province. It accorded the one-time approval for the swap with the condition that commitments accruing out of previous award of block should be completed and the Petroleum Division should incorporate a time limit for such swap so that future requests were catered for.
The CCI also reviewed implementation status of previous decisions. – TLTP