China - Pakistan Economic Corridor - CPEC
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Brigadier
In context of the importance of , Post has bought an acre of land in for an international mail office, a news source reported. This project is going to cost PKR 79 million.
According to sources, the PC-1 of the project has been prepared by Pakistan Post and the planning phase is complete for the project. PKR 40 million has been allocated for the project under Public Sector Development Program (PSDP).
Not only will the international mail office provide postal services, it will also provide logistical services. The construction will begin on the project as soon as the federal government approves it.
The acquired land is located close to Gwadar Industrial Zone and it is expected that the postal office will get good business from the industrial area.
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Brigadier
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that projects under the massive China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will continue as planned and will not face interference from the ongoing foreign exchange crisis in Pakistan.
At a regular press briefing on Wednesday, Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that earlier media reports suggested CPEC could be at risk if China does not provide loans to Pakistan to avert the latter's currency crisis.
"We believe that the CPEC will move forward in accordance with the consensus reached by the Chinese and Pakistani sides and will not be disrupted by other factors," Hua said, adding that the CPEC has offered great impetus to economic growth in Pakistan in recent years and has "the full support of the Pakistani government and people."
Citing unnamed Pakistani officials, the Financial Times reported that Pakistani officials had told their Chinese peers that if China did not provide additional loans to help with the country's foreign currency crisis, it would have to turn to the IMF.
That would require Pakistan to disclose details of investment for the CPEC and "even cancel some of the infrastructure projects already planned," the Financial Times reported.
Hua on Wednesday called the report "seriously inaccurate," before referring to Pakistani Minister for Finance, Planning and Development Shamshad Akhtar, who had "cleared up" the rumors and stressed that Pakistan would firmly push forward the development of the CPEC.
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Brigadier
Post-election scenario sees positive impact on
Post-election scenario sees positive impact on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for its smooth functioning, with having continuously support of the nation across the board. The CPEC will remain a priority area even for the next government, says a report published in the China Daily on Wednesday. According to the report, the CPEC is a strategic decision for Pakistan. The 220 million people of Pakistan support CPEC and Pakistan’s institutions, especially the Pakistan Army, are its guarantor.
The projects under CPEC are an international obligation and Pakistan has a track record of fulfilling its obligations. We have amassed immense debts but have not defaulted on any one of them, which shows Pakistan’s adherence to its obligations. Moreover, CPEC is a mutually agreed-upon framework and beneficial for both China as well as Pakistan, a perfect example of a win-win situation. Projects covered under CPEC are vital for Pakistan and will boost Pakistan’s economy, job market and security. There exists complete consensus among all political parties, big or small, that CPEC should be supported in principle. The people of Pakistan are already enjoying the fruits of CPEC in the form of an increased electricity supply.
The pre-CPEC shortage of electricity had hit the nation very hard and made industries less competitive in the business world. Improved infrastructure has eased travel and communication for the people of Pakistan, while pre-CPEC infrastructure was rather outdated and old, especially the colonial-era railway system which was laid by the British. A new job market has opened up for Pakistani youth, new businesses have been created, and unlimited avenues of opportunities are available for further exploration.
Above all, Pakistan-China relations are so strong that changes of government have never impacted the two “Iron Brothers” in the past. In spite of the fact that various governments have led the two countries in the last six decades, the change of leadership has never affected Pakistan-China relations and the friendship has only grown stronger.
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Brigadier
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China has been extending support to its all-weather ally Pakistan with an aim to counter any external maritime threat. The latest in its series of efforts, China is building eight submarines for Pakistan to ensure a tough competition to the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean.
Media reports quoting sources suggested on Monday that under Project Hangor, China’s shipbuilding industry is building the submarines which will soon be handed over to Pakistan. India, as of now, has 16 submarines while Pakistan has 10. The acquisition of new submarines is a part of Pakistan’s effort to scale up its capabilities in underwater warfare.
At a time when instances of Indian troops infiltrating into the Chinese territory is also not new, the submarines will add to Pakistan's strength and are likely to be a headache for the Indian Navy.
The move comes at a time when China has already successfully launched two remote sensing satellites for Pakistan. Indians believe that these will also help keep an eye on India. The satellites -- PRSS-1 and PakTES-1A --were launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China using a Long March-2C rocket.
The PRSS-1 is China’s first optical remote sensing satellite sold to Pakistan. It is the 17th satellite developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) for an overseas buyer. It is being said that the PRSS-1 will be used for land and resources surveying, monitoring natural disasters, agriculture research, and urban construction and providing remote sensing information for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of the Chinese government.
The CPEC is a network of infrastructure projects that are currently under construction throughout Pakistan that will connect China's Xinjiang province with the Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Balochistan province, giving China an opening to the Arabian Sea.
The satellite can turn at wide angles to enable the cameras to cover a wider range. The PRSS-1 has an information security design, and the data can be encrypted.
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THE promised overhaul of Pakistan’s communications framework that was a part of the Long Term Plan for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has seen a major phase reach completion — an achievement that is to be lauded for the benefits it brings to ordinary citizens and the strategic advantages it provides to both countries.
The Pak-China Optical Fibre Cable project was inaugurated on Friday, having been completed over a period of two years. The project’s main features are the 820km underground Optical Fibre Cable from Rawalpindi to Khunjerab and the 172km aerial OFC link from Karimabad to Khunjerab. As reported, a communication link has been established with the Chinese side on the border and has been successfully tested for end-to-end connectivity.
Being the first land-based communication link between Pakistan and China, it should immediately ensure secure communication with regard to CPEC-specific projects and other sensitive information exchanges that would no longer necessarily be routed through Europe, the United States or India. As highlighted in previous reports, the existing network by which Pakistan connects to the world has been developed by a consortium that includes Indian companies as partners or shareholders — a security risk that has been voiced by officials in the past.
Eventually, the plan will also provide security in the form of a backup route for Pakistan’s internet traffic, which is currently entirely dependent on undersea cables. Those living in the long-ignored regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan will finally have meaningful access to high-speed internet, which is a big step up from the poor to non-existent set-up of the past. Eventually, connectivity will ensure economic growth in those areas, especially in information and communication technologies and the telecom sector. Overall, given proper consideration and investment by the government, the impact of this project could be wide-ranging — from faster, cheaper internet to e-governance and more.
It is hoped that this step will quickly be followed up with further development of the digital corridor highlighted in the LTP, which would position Pakistan as a cost-effective communication highway for China and the landlocked Central Asian states that would look to connect to the world through Gwadar. It is also hoped that in the long term, connectivity through China will not necessitate the imposition on Pakistani citizens the many censorship mechanisms currently set up by China for their own state.
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Standing on the roadside in the scorching sunlight for hours, Akbar is waiting for water tankers with two big drums in his hands. It is a daily routine for the 15-year-old in Pakistan's southwest port city of Gwadar.
"I waited here for a long time. Sometimes I waved my hands when the tankers came, but only a few stopped. Most of the time I returned home with nothing."
Only two or three drums of water can meet the Akbar family's daily water needs. Gwadar is facing acute water scarcity and local people are struggling with and suffering from water shortage.
Gwadar people used to fetch water from three dams in surrounding areas, a tough job due to the poor supply infrastructure of the dams, namely Akra Kaur Dam, Mirani Dam and Sawad Dam.
More unfortunately, the three reservoirs have already encountered dry-up due to an extended drought in recent years.
As the water shortage became more serious in the coastal city, locals also have to face price hike of the water provided by the private water tankers. "Most of the water tanker owners sell their water, but we have not enough money to buy," Akbar told Xinhua.
"One year ago, the water price from private tankers was about 1.5 rupees per gallon, but now it has surged to 2 or 3 rupees per gallon due to water shortage. The price will further increase when water supply from the government side suspended," Waseem Baloch, a local, told Xinhua.
Now, people are paying 5,000 to 7,000 rupees (about 50 to 70 U.S. dollars) for about 2,300 gallons of water, about 10-day amount consumed by a six-member family.
"Those who can afford the private tanker water are relatively rich, but most of the poor can not afford the water, it will cost all their monthly income, only on water," Baloch said.
Meanwhile, according to a report by the Health Department under the Balochistan provincial Ministry of Health, one-fifth of Gwadar population of 138,000 people visited hospitals due to consumption of unhygienic drinking water from private tanker owners last year.
But the water situation in Gwadar is having a positive turn, as a new seawater desalination plant was built and inaugurated by the China Overseas Ports Holding Company (COPHC), the operator of Gwadar port under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The COPHC in May has signed an agreement with the Baloch government to provide 300,000 gallons of drinkable desalted seawater daily to the later at a cost price and the government will distribute the water freely through its pipelines to families in Gwadar. The project could benefit about 4,000 Gwadar households.
"Since May, we arrange water tanker to carry the desalted seawater to locals. Currently, pipelines have been laid down and water will be supplied through it now. Some areas do not have pipelines so we will continue to send our tankers there," said Zeeshan, who is in charge of the water distribution in the Chinese company.
"I am very happy. The water plant established by the Chinese company is very helpful for us. The water is free for us and their water is very good. We are very thankful to them," said Akbar.
Babar Fiaz, a university student from Gwadar, was excited at the start of the water supply from the purification plant and said, "if we continue to make such water treatment and supply projects in Gwadar, the water crisis will be resolved soon."
Once a small fishing town, Gwadar is witnessing a wave of development projects, especially after the start of CPEC a few years ago.
Since then, the deep-water port is making its new identity and has become fully functional since late 2016. Its free zone first phase and business center have been constructed earlier this year and embraced its first liner in March. Now, people in the remote Gwadar could also enjoy the speedy 4G mobile connection to interact with the rest of the world.
Local builder and a real estate businessman Gul Zameer Shah termed Gwadar as a diamond in the crown of CPEC and said that CPEC is crafting this barren coastal area into an international port city by the fast completion of development projects.
"If we want Gwadar to become a successful story, the water issues must be solved," Shah said, urging the local, provincial as well the central governments to make fast decision on steps to counter the drought by constructing seawater desalination plants to support the city's water needs.
