ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: China and Pakistan have agreed to hold 6th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting in the last week of November to discuss and approve a future roadmap of Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC).
According to a message received on Wednesday, the representatives of all the provinces would be invited in the meeting, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Prof Ahsan Iqbal told media after his meeting with China’s Vice Chairman of National Development Reforms Commission (NDRC) in Beijing.
He said, China has also agreed to provide concessional loan of US$ 5.5 billion for up-gradation of Karachi-Peshawar railway track project. After completion of this project, the speed of trains would be enhanced from existing 80 km per hour to 160 km per hour, he added.
The Minister informed that China would also expedite the approval of projects for the development of Gwadar.
He said, training workshops would be held on the topics of urban planning, rural development, small business, protection of water resources and industrial zones in an effort to take benefit from China’s experience in this regard.
Ahsan said, the CPEC would take Pak-China relations to new heights “even beyond the stars”, adding, investment of US$ 46 billion would be largest in the history of foreign investments in Pakistan.
He said, projects worth US$ 18 billion were in implementation phase while project of US$ were in pipeline.
He said, projects worth billions of rupee were also being completed in all parts of the country from the budget.