FAISALABAD, Jul 23 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday called for political stability to attract foreign investment and pull the country out of the present economic difficulties.
Speaking to the office bearers of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and prominent businessmen, he urged that politics should be put aside in the matters of economy and all stakeholders including politicians, businessmen and bureaucracy should be on board for carrying out structural and deep-rooted reforms.
He went on to say that agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) only gave breathing space to the economy and the way out of economic difficulties was reforms in different sectors.
The prime minister recalled that the government of Nawaz Sharif introduced the projects of solar, wind and hydel energy but later policies for alternative energy were discontinued and unfair cases were launched by NAB which stopped progress to attain green energy.
He was of the view that corruption should not be tolerated but there should be a fair, transparent and just system of accountability so that the economy should not be jeopardized in the name of accountability. The focus should be on strengthening economy instead of levelling baseless allegations which were harmful for economic, industrial and agricultural growth, he added.
He said his government enacted the law for government to government agreements for attracting foreign investment and now countries like China, Saudi Arabia, Korea and Qatar were willing to invest in Pakistan and only wanted political stability so that they could set up businesses, earn profits and in return bring benefits to people of Pakistan. These countries were not interested in giving loans but wanted to make investments, he remarked.
He was confident that the country would emerge from financial stress, revenues would be generated, businessmen would make profits as the wheel of the economy would move ahead. Shehbaz Sharif assured that if people would give his party the mandate in the next elections, his government would resolve issues of industrialists and exporters. He said exports of the industrial and agriculture sectors were the backbone of Pakistan, adding the businessmen rightly raised the issues including the problem of high power and gas tariffs. IMF asked the government to refrain from giving subsidies to the consumers on electricity, he explained.
He said Pakistan was faced with immense economic challenges, adding the country could not get an honourable status in the international community without increasing exports and achieving economic progress.
He said Faisalabad was the hub of the textile industry and once it was called Manchester of Pakistan. He appreciated businessmen of Faisalabad for contributing and rendering invaluable services for the economy of Pakistan and making great strides in the textile industry with their hard work and entrepreneurship. The textile exporters were working in a competitive and challenging environment and textiles were the biggest component in export earnings, he added. He lauded the businessmen for their contribution for the welfare of citizens through different projects.
APP59-230723
FAISALABAD: July 23 – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif unveils a plaque to mark the groundbreaking of Faisalabad Satyana Bypass Road. APP/FHA
ISLAMABAD, Jul 23 (APP): The transformational China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of President Xi Jinping’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), remained at the core of Pak-China relationship and was pivotal to Pakistan’s future economic progress and prosperity.
This was stated by Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General, Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), while addressing the Third Pakistan-China Think Tank Forum, convened in Beijing on 21 July 2023, as part of the series of commemorative events being held in connection with completion of 10 years of CPEC.
The 15-member Pakistan delegation visiting China participated in the Seminar jointly organised by ISSI and the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), at the CICIR headquarters in Beijing, a press release issued by ISSI here on Sunday said.
Led by Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, the delegation includes diplomats, leading academics, researchers, and media persons.
Following the plenary, the separate sessions of the Seminar, titled “Decade of CPEC: Review and Outlook”, were moderated by Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC), ISSI; Dr. Hu Shisheng, Director, Institute of South Asian Studies, CICIR; and Dr. Lou Chunhao, Executive Director, Institute of South Asian Studies, CICIR.
The speakers at the event included Ambassador Zhang Maoming, Deputy Director-General, Department of Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), China; Head of the Pakistan Delegation Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General, ISSI; Prof. Dr. Attaullah Shah, Vice Chancellor, Karakoram International University, Pakistan; Dr. Wang Xu, Executive Deputy Director, Centre for South Asian Studies, Peking University; Ambassador Babar Amin, Former Ambassador of Pakistan to Norway and Australia; Dr. Mukesh Kumar Khatwani, Associate Professor, University of Sindh; Dr. Wang Shida, Deputy Director, Institute of South Asian Studies, CICIR; and Dr. Fouzia Hadi Ali, Associate Professor and Director, Regional Integration Centre, University of the Punjab.
Ambassador Zhang Maoming, Deputy Director-General Department of Asian Affairs, in his keynote address during the plenary extended felicitations to ISSI and CICIR on organising the 3rd Pakistan-China Think Tank Forum.
Ambassador Maoming emphasised that Pakistan and China are good neighbours, good friends, and good brothers.
He underlined that regardless of the dynamic of international politics, China and Pakistan always firmly support each other.
He added that President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had agreed to continue to deepen bilateral strategic cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Maomimg underscored that the China-Pakistan friendship was deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. China extended its support to Pakistani people in the last year’s floods, supported Pakistan in its temporary financial problems, and helped in evacuating the Pakistani nationals from Sudan.
He noted that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This year marks the 10th anniversary of both the CPEC and BRI.
He recalled that during President Xi Jinping’s 2015 official visit to Pakistan the “1+4” Cooperation Structure was setup. Over the past 10 years, CPEC has made a lot of progress and also attracted certain risks and challenges; however, regardless of the challenges, the Chinese side is committed to optimally realising the full potential and ensuring high-quality development of CPEC.
He added that in the second phase of CPEC, China was resolved to enhance cooperation in the fields of agriculture, mining, science and technology, and information technology.
He said that China wishes to make CPEC a demonstration project of high-quality development and contribute to progress and prosperity of Pakistan and countries of the region and beyond.
Ambassador Maoming said that the Pakistan-China Think Tank Forum is an important outcome of the first China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue with the aim to integrate the resources of think-tanks and provide intellectual support for the CPEC.
He stressed the importance of conducting relevant studies and appreciated the efforts of ISSI and CICIR in this regard.
He affirmed that the Chinese side will support Pakistan in an unwavering manner. China would consistently support strategies for modernisation and high-quality development in Pakistan. Among other things, consideration should be given to further align the development strategies and to enhance Pakistan’s exports to China. Both sides should also continue to work together to address security challenges.
Ambassador Maoming also stressed the importance of countering motivated propaganda against CPEC by highlighting the accomplishments of CPEC for the international community.
DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, in his keynote remarks, underlined the importance of the first in-person session of Pakistan-China Think Tank Forum.
He said that ISSI valued its institutional relationship with CICIR and wished to further deepen mutual collaboration.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood reaffirmed that friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and the two countries’ time-tested strategic cooperative partnership is based on strategic mutual trust and commonality of views.
The two countries support each other on their respective issues of core interest including Pakistan’s steadfast support to China on ‘One-China’ policy and Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and South China Sea.
For its part, Pakistan appreciated China’s consistent support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and economic development as well as its principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood said that the ‘Decade of CPEC’ is the practical manifestation of the growing strategic relationship between Pakistan and China. CPEC has contributed enormously to Pakistan’s economic growth, helped improve transport infrastructure, address energy deficit, and promoted socio-economic development. The second phase of CPEC is focusing on agriculture, industrialisation, SEZs, mining, science and technology, and Information Technology.
He added that the decision to extend CPEC to Afghanistan and the potential for its further westward movement to Central Asia would help advance the key shared objectives of connectivity and regional economic integration.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood stressed that the two sides must continue to work together in defending CPEC against threats and challenges posed by forces inimical to Pakistan-China relationship.
The security dimension is most important in terms of safeguarding the shared interests of both nations in the changing geo-strategic environment and optimally realising CPEC’s full potential for development.
He said that successful completion of 10 years is a major milestone and also a fitting juncture for planning for the many next 10 years of CPEC to come.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood said the leadership and people of Pakistan believe China and Pakistan are indispensable partners and that CPEC is pivotal to Pakistan’s future economic progress and prosperity. This is consistent with Pakistan’s pivot to geo-economics.
He noted that in 2047 and 2049, Pakistan and China would be celebrating their respective centenaries and, as such, the two countries should craft a vision now for the next twenty-five years for their strategic partnership. The vision should also focus on how China’s tremendous technological transformation could be leveraged to advance Pakistan’s economic modernisation and development.
Dr. Fu Xiaoqiang, Vice President, CICIR, in his keynote speech highlighted that China attaches great value to its relations with Pakistan.
He said that over the past decade, CPEC has secured many achievements by creating jobs, improving the energy sector, and adding over 500 kilometres to roads and motorways.
The second phase of CPEC is focusing on agriculture, industrialisation and several other key sectors.
He said that CPEC can be further developed on three models; a) on the model of BRI, b) on the model of international relations, and c) on the model of regional development and security. He highlighted that the security of this mega project needs to be closely monitored.
He concluded by lauding the China-Pakistan friendship and its prospects for the region and beyond.
Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director, CPSC, moderated the Session-I entitled “Challenges now and ahead faced by CPEC.” He said that China and Pakistan are friends and strategic partners, and their mutual friendship is moving from strength to strength. The relationship includes economic and strategic ties.
He articulated that China is the pivot of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
He said that CPEC is a multi-billion dollar project and we stand together to celebrate the ten years of CPEC. Over the decade, we have achieved huge successes with regards to CPEC especially by building infrastructure and energy security under the CPEC.
He said that now we have entered the second phase of CPEC and we have opportunities and challenges. He said that opportunities will drive the future and we have to recognise the economic cooperation, focusing on human resource development, people-to-people exchanges, strengthening the financial position particularly for Pakistan, and use dialogue for better communications. There are accomplishments that we must celebrate, and there are challenges to cope with, he concluded.
Prof. Dr. Attaullah Shah, Vice Chancellor, Karakoram International University, said that CPEC has huge potential and strengths.
He argued that CPEC has to be pivoted upon three corridors including physical, research, and technological knowledge.
He said that certain quarters have been engaged in maligning the BRI and CPEC. The intensifying major-power competition has added new dimensions to the international dynamics. In the backdrop of this, Pakistan and China need to cooperate and counter any moves against CPEC.
Dr. Wang Xu, Executive Deputy Director of Centre for South Asian Studies, Peking University, analysed the political, economic and foreign policy dimensions.
Emphasising the importance of structural reforms of the economy, he also dilated on how Pakistan’s relationship with neighbouring countries could be leveraged to advance shared interests.
Ambassador Babar Amin said that CPEC is a game-changer for Pakistan and it was announced before the BRI.
He said that Covid-19 somewhat slowed down some projects; however, CPEC is the right step towards connectivity.
He said that CPEC and BRI are together the pivot of regional peace and stability as they aim to connect South Asia, Western China, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
He added that CPEC emphasises people-to-people connectivity. The 12th Joint Cooperation Committee was just held in Beijing to commemorate the decade of CPEC. CPEC is the best thing to happen to Pakistan in terms of economic development and social progress, he concluded.
Dr. Lou Chunhao, Executive Director of Institute of South Asian Studies, moderated the Session-II, entitled “Ways dealing with the above-mentioned Challenges.” Dr. Chunhao expressed his elation on the first in-person dialogue between CICIR and ISSI.
Dr. Mukesh Kumar Khatwani, Associate Professor, University of Sindh, said that CPEC likely will create 500,000 to 800,000 jobs in Pakistan by 2030.
He said that in the regional context CPEC can be extended to Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia.
He noted that there are challenges to CPEC and there is a need for capacity-building in Pakistan for CPEC projects to be fully realised.
He emphasised political stability as well as need to combat poverty and unemployment by making full use of CPEC.
Dr. Wang Shida, Deputy Director of Institute of South Asian Studies, spoke about dealing with the challenge in the economic field. He said that there is a need to promote major internal reforms by removing existing restrictions for high-quality development.
He also talked about how Pakistan and China could deal with the geopolitical challenge.
He lamented that a few countries pursued a zero-sum game and some in the region opposed to CPEC were peddling narratives against it.
Dr. Shida said that CPEC is an inclusive project that could extend to Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia.
He said that China mediated between Iran and Saudi Arabia and in the backdrop of this, the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline could materialise.
Dr. Fouzia Hadi Ali, Associate Professor and Director, Regional Integration Centre, University of the Punjab, presented analytics and highlighted the challenge of narrative-building against CPEC and China-Pakistan bilateral relations.
Dr. Fouzia said that most of the articles and literature against CPEC were published in the West and India. She did bibliometric analysis and presented the numbers as well and emphasised the importance of stronger narrative to show the benefits of CPEC.
The speeches and presentations were followed by an interactive question-and-answer session.
The session concluded with a clear message of high hopes for the future of CPEC and unwavering Chinese support for Pakistan.
APP56-230723
FAISALABAD: July 23 – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses the members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries. APP/TZD/FHA
APP55-230723
FAISALABAD: July 23 – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses the members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries. APP/TZD/FHA
ISLAMABAD, Jul 23 (APP): A two–day international conference on “Decade of China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) – From Vision To Reality” will start here on Monday.
The conference is being organized by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives in collaboration with the Chinese embassy in Pakistan, a news release said.
The CPEC being a strategic principal component of the BRI focuses on infrastructure development and socioeconomic cooperation between China and Pakistan, the two all-weather friends.
The conference aims to bring together policymakers, scholars, practitioners and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and insights related to economic, social, environmental and geopolitical impacts of the CPEC and BRI.
Chinese Charge d’Affaires Pang Chunxue and Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal would be chief guest at the occasion.
The conference would explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation, sustainable development and inclusive growth in the subsequent phase of CPEC.
During the moot, various sessions would be held in which key policymakers would take a broader overview of the CPEC.
However, the panel discussions would take place under key themes by the expert speakers who would present their research findings, share best practices while engaging in–depth discussions with the audience.
All the accepted and presented papers would be published in the conference’s abstract book while selected papers to be printed in the special issue of Pakistan Development Review (PDR) Journal after blind peer review and approval of the scientist committee.
The conference would consist of different technical sessions including socioeconomic impacts of the CPEC, Prospects of Regional Connectivity Through Gwadar Port, Opportunities for Industrial Relocation and Export ; Green Technologies and Development; Security and Geopolitical Implications; Innovation, Technology and Global Value Chains; Challenges to Regional Connectivity and Integration, Artificial Intelligence and Labour Market Dynamics.
Souvenirs would be awarded to representatives of Pakistani and Chinese companies who have participated in execution of the CPEC projects. A special coin, prepared by the Planning Ministry to mark the 10 years celebrations, would also be launched.
Besides, special documentaries on the CPEC would be showcased during the event to mark the 10-year celebrations.
Since the incumbent government came into power in April 2022, the CPEC projects have been revived that remained shelved during the tenure of the previous PTI government.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif already reiterated his full commitment to complete the CPEC projects and in this regard he visited China after assuming charge of the PM office.
Over the decade, the two countries known as ‘Iron Brother’ have developed strong bonds in diverse fields.
The CPEC effectively helped Pakistan in improving its energy security as well as transport networks from north to south and laid the foundation for a resilient infrastructure including ports, airports, roads and railway.
Recently, the Planning Minister visited China to mark the 10- year celebrations of the CPEC.
It is noted that Chinese authorities have already declared Ahsan Iqbal as “Mr CPEC,” who has the honour of co-chairing nine, out of 12 Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meetings.
APP54-230723
FAISALABAD: July 23 – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses the members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries. APP/TZD/FHA
APP53-230723
FAISALABAD: July 23 – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif being briefed about the rehabilitation of Faisalabad Circular Road. APP/TZD/FHA
