ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal Monday said that Pakistan and China have signed US $28 billion agreements, which would be started immediately while the remaining US $17 billion projects were in pipeline and would follow as soon as required studies, processes and formalities completed.
He said that Pak-China friendship was time-tested and there was need for a strong economic relation between the two countries. With the signing of all these agreements, that strong economic relation with China had also been established, he mentioned.
The minister said most of the projects signed would complete till year 2018 except two hydel power projects one at Krot and other at Suki Kinari, which would take five to eight years for their completion.
The coal and infrastructure projects would take three years to complete, solar one year and wind project would take six months to one year for their completion, he informed.
Ahsan said that the emphasis of Pak-China Economic Corridor was on energy and that these projects would help overcome the energy crisis in the country, adding, 8400 Mega Watt projects were signed today.
Moreover, through Thar Coal project, the backward area of Thar would get developed, he said, adding, China would also help Pakistan convert Gwadar into a port city of international level.
The minister said the other advantage Pakistan had gotten from Chinese President’s visit was that a new face of Pakistan has emerged before the world as all the renowned international publications had made headlines regarding the visit.
Replying to a question, he said Orange-Line Metro Rail project with China was the outcome of the efforts of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and credit must be given to him.
