BEIJING, China: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday signed 11 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with the Chinese Companies in Beijing for completion of various development projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework in the province.
The Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, Senator Shibli Faraz, Ambassador of Pakistan to China Masood Khalid, President China-Pakistan Friendship Association Sha Zhu Kang, ministers and senior provincial officials witnessed the signing ceremony.
The development projects to be completed in different parts of the province included information technology, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), power plants, oil refinery, infrastructure and e-commerce.
Speaking on the occasion, Pervez Khattak invited the Chinese companies and businessmen to take advantage of investment-friendly atmosphere in the province for mutual benefits of the people of two countries.
“We have set the stage to begin journey of industrialization in the province and we need support of our “Iron brothers” to put the province on the path of development and economic growth,” he added.
While appreciating the One Belt One Road Initiative announced by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, he said that the CPEC is a flagship component of the Initiative and stressed to further enhance business, cultural and social cooperation between Pakistan and China.
Terming Peshawar a key city on the Western route of CPEC, he said that it is located at a very strategic location connecting different regions.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister said that during the last four years, his government has introduced reforms in health, education and infrastructure and created investment-friendly environment in the province.
Pervez Khattak said that a strong security force comprising 4,500 personnel has been established for protection of foreign workforce including Chinese deployed on various development projects. He informed that a number of Chinese companies are working in the province and they are being provided fool proof security.
While emphasizing the importance of the CPEC, President China-Pakistan Friendship Association Sha Zhu Kang said that the success of One Belt and Road Initiative is linked with the CPEC as it is pilot project of the Initiative.
The President China-Pakistan Friendship Association said that the CEPC will not only benefit both China and Pakistan but it is beneficial for regional and global economic growth and all the countries and economies along the One Belt One Road Initiative will benefit from it. He said that the proposed corridor stretching from Kashghar to Gwadar will bring about economic and social progress for not a particular area but the entire Pakistan.
Zhu Kang said that the Chinese companies are already working in KPK and providing job opportunities to a large number of locals.
Welcoming the audience, Ambassador Masood Khalid informed that around 86 projects including energy, agriculture and infrastructure would be presented for investment and cooperation.
Masood Khalid said that the KPK Chief Minister’s visit, second in the last four months, underscores the importance of CPEC and Pak-China relations. He said that all political parties in Pakistan are on one page as for as China-Pakistan relations are concerned, adding that CPEC – the leading project of One Belt One Road Initiative – has developed mutual cooperation.
The ambassador said that the CPEC is showing steady progress and now the Gwadar Port is operational and energy and infrastructure projects are being completed in accordance their timeframe.
Sharing with development and economic growth in Pakistan during last few years, he asked the Chinese investors and businessmen to take good advantage of conducive environment and the untapped potential in different sectors.
Masood said that the CPEC is long term strategic plan and it is manifestation of leadership of Pakistan and China vision for mutual benefits of the two countries and the region.
The Special Envoy on CPEC Zafar Mahmood said that the KPK province offers best possible opportunities for investment and expressed the confidence that Chinese companies will take lead in tapping this advantage.
Later, the official of KPK government presented overview of different projects having abundance potential for the Chinese investment. He sought cooperation in hydel power, oil and gas exploration, development of infrastructure in tourism sector, mines, mineral and precious stones.
The official said that as many as 17 sites have been selected for setting up on SEZs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the provincial government will ensure investment hospitality by maintaining peace, ensuring transparency and good governance.
Talking about priority areas of collaboration, he said that these are communication, mining, tourism, industrial cooperation, energy, cultural exchange, agriculture, urban development and linkage with academia.
Some representatives of Chinese companies already working in KPK shared their experience and informed that they have complete protection and viable environment for their business.
