China's overland Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road Thread
- Thread starter SampanViking
- Start date
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Brigadier
Thar Coal based 14 power plants to produce 6000 MW by 2025
four power plants based on Thar Coal would also be constructed at Keti Bundar site for which feasibility study was under way.
Rashid said the components of the study would include strategic environmental social impact assessment, 1320 MW power general based on Thar Coal (potential of 10,000 MW), power evacuation requirement, railway line from Thar Coal field (Islamkot) to Keti Bundar, construction of Coal Jetti, and related infrastructure.
He said to transport coal from the Thar coal field to Keti Bundur, a 341 kilometer long Railway Line would be constructed.
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Brigadier
On Nov. 15, unit one of 2x660 MW Port Qasim power station in reached 682.1 MW, laying a solid foundation for the 168 hours full–load test. Warmest congratulations!!! Unit two will be ready by next February 2018.
Economic Corridor - , - - ...
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Brigadier
60 Km Hazara Motorway completion deadline 15 Dec 2017 by NHA .Work on 180 km Hazara Motorway is in full swing and 60 Km section will become operational by Dec 2017.
60 kilometer Burhan-Havelian section of motorway, a part of the Hazara Motorway will cost thirty four billion rupees.
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Brigadier
Five companies plan to set up cellphone assembly lines in Pakistan....
The companies that sought government’s permission to set up assembly lines include , , Phone, Mobiles and .
“We expect these companies to start manufacturing mobile phones in their plants soon,” a senior PTA official said.
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Brigadier
: China provides grant of Rs 22 billion for New Gwadar International Airport...
China has provided a grant worth over twenty two billion rupees for construction of Gwadar International Airport and work on the project will start by mid next year.
He said the government is also strategizing to end the dependence on rainwater in Gwadar and has sought proposals in this regard to execute long term project to cope with water needs.
The PM meeting discussed in detail all the CEPC projects in detail including power and water supply, construction of Gwadar airport, free port, extension of the port and development of the Special Economic Zones.
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Brigadier
Agreement for Coal Power Plant between Habiba and PPI...
According to the country's biggest IPHebo and Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), a contract agreement has been made for THERENCOIL's 330 MW power plant. Managing Director, PPIB Managing Director, Shahi Mirza Mirza and Thar Energy Limited, Habiba, Chief Financial Officer, Fatima Mary signed the agreement. It is clear that Habib has established a project called 'Therm Energy Limited (TEL)' for installation of the first coal coal fired power plant in Strength II in the project.
The project set up cost of $ 505 million will start working by December 2020. According to the statement issued by the company, the EPC agreement has been set up by China Machinery and Engineering Corporation (CMEC) for the project, which has started the initial work on the site for timely completion of the project. Power procurement agreement for the project (PPA), coal supply agreement and water usage agreement have also been fixed.
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Brigadier
India-Afghan Nexus: Impact on
By Asia Maqsood
The US now realizes that as being a vehicle by which Beijing can catalyze an irreversible change in the strategic balance of power of new trade routes and markets. By prioritizing India in South Asian region negating Pakistan’s numerous efforts in Afghanistan would further deteriorate the regional stability. India’s stance on CPEC that it passes through the disputed territories recently obtained support from the US and now Afghanistan is in the same camp. These all states should not undermine the prospects of development in the disputed territories through CPEC by China and Pakistan, otherwise the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be considered universal.
There are some tumultuous factors which are contributing in the growing Indo-Afghan nexus. First; historically India was the only South Asian country which recognized the (erstwhile) Soviet backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War. After the withdrawal of the Soviet Union, India remained consistent in providing Najibullah’s government with humanitarian aid. Second; India’s bilateral trade with Afghanistan is increasing gradually for example it was $684.47 million during the time span of 2014-15. India’s export increased at $422.56 million and imports from Afghanistan worth of $261.91 million during the same time period. It is pertinent to discuss here that despite the lack of direct land access, India is the second largest destination for Afghan exports. Third; the defence facet, last year India delivered three Russian-made Mi-25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan (International Business Time Report). Fourth; India’s Prime Minister and President of Afghanistan M. Ashraf Ghani inaugurated the new Afghan Parliament building as India has constructed this building at worth of $90 million as a goodwill gesture. Fifth; According to Sushma Swaraj India is working with Afghanistan and Iran to develop a trilateral transit through the development of the Chabahar Port to connect with Afghanistan and beyond and lastly the most influential factor is the extra-regional role especially US role to bring close India to Afghanistan making this more important country in the South Asian region ignoring Pakistan’s role in War on Terror.
Furthermore, recent visit of PM Modi to US on 25-26 June, 2017 concluded the joint statement of both countries, announced that Washington would co-sponsor the Indo-Afghan export, Trade and Investment Fair in September 2017 and that support requires a sufficient participation from India in bringing the statement called “increased stability and prosperity in Afghanistan.” Likewise, a Pentagon Report titled as “Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan” released in June, 2017 has labeled India as Afghanistan’s most reliable regional partner. Simultaneously this report underscored the Afghan oriented militant groups are being supported by Pakistan government. Following these statements, another development happened when the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s unannounced visit to Kabul on Oct 23 at Bagram Airfield north of Kabul which is the largest US base in Afghanistan. Tillerson said “Clearly we have to continue to fight against the Taliban, against others, in order for them to understand they will never win a military victory,”. Recently, Donald Trump’s Administration has unveiled a strategy to try to defeat the Taliban and other extremist groups in Afghanistan, and officials said more than 3,000 additional US troops are being sent to the country to reinforce the 11,000 US troops already stationed in the country. He also emphasized that the US new strategy towards Afghanistan making this obvious that US is committed to working with Afghan government and with partners across the region ( the priority is given to India) to bring peace in Afghanistan and deny safe heavens to terrorist who threaten this objective ( accusation on Pakistan). It is pertinent to discuss here that if the objective is to bring peace to Afghanistan and the whole region as well then prioritizing one South Asian country is in this process of peace is unsound. Pakistan should be assimilated and the process of peace should be inclusive instead of biased.
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Brigadier
cont....
Later on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visited India just a day after Tillerson’s visit to Afghanistan and termed the Trump administration’s new South Asia strategy as a “game-changer” for the region as it “recommends multi-dimensional condition-based approach for the region.” Then question arises that how this policy would be game changer in which just India is needed for US in terms of Afghanistan? Following these developments, Ghani said that Kabul will restrict Pakistan’s access to Central Asia if it is not given access to India through the CPEC project, according to the DNA (Daily News and Analysis) article by addressing a gathering at the Vivekananda International Foundation in New Delhi. He said that his country will not be a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) unless it is given access to Pakistan’s Wagah border, DNA India reported. Hence it is inevitable here to raise the argument that real game changer of the region is also CPEC project being inclusive which is neither restricting Afghanistan nor India. The comment came a week after a meeting took place between representatives of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the United States in Oman, in which the revival of peace talks with the Taliban was discussed. Hence both Afghanistan and India should also perceive the CPEC project a threat to them. It also pertinent to discuss here that US backing India on CPEC by claiming that it runs through the disputed territory, how self-centered these nations on halting the development on those disputed regions and on the other hand they are concerned with peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.
Summing up the above arguments, as President Ghani said, “Afghanistan’s no unless Pakistan gives access to India through CPEC”, is baseless and seems like under pressure of India. It gives the depiction that US has its own concerns to contain China’s influence in South Asia, India’s concerns to halt this project to contain China and claims over disputed territories. Eventually both the US and India came together on their obnoxious stance on CPEC and now they are influencing Afghanistan against this development. However this project is simply a development project and would bring prosperity and regional connectivity of the whole South Asian region. Afghanistan should not be part of this containment policy instead it should focus on its development and cooperation with all neighboring countries. As far as China and Pakistan are concerned, China would not give up CPEC just because of mere Indian protests. The Indian government will not cease its developmental activities in Arunachal Pradesh either (disputed territory). But is it not important to respect the voices of communities residing in disputed territories as a priority rather than following the institutional norms in developmental activities? From inter-governmental institutions like ADB/World Bank to each country sharing disputed territories like India or China or Pakistan, it is foremost important to stand up with rights to development of communities. Otherwise, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be considered ‘universal’. The CPEC is a flagship of this initiative because it provides China with reliable non-Malacca access to the Indian Ocean. Russia has also backed this initiative.
Later on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visited India just a day after Tillerson’s visit to Afghanistan and termed the Trump administration’s new South Asia strategy as a “game-changer” for the region as it “recommends multi-dimensional condition-based approach for the region.” Then question arises that how this policy would be game changer in which just India is needed for US in terms of Afghanistan? Following these developments, Ghani said that Kabul will restrict Pakistan’s access to Central Asia if it is not given access to India through the CPEC project, according to the DNA (Daily News and Analysis) article by addressing a gathering at the Vivekananda International Foundation in New Delhi. He said that his country will not be a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) unless it is given access to Pakistan’s Wagah border, DNA India reported. Hence it is inevitable here to raise the argument that real game changer of the region is also CPEC project being inclusive which is neither restricting Afghanistan nor India. The comment came a week after a meeting took place between representatives of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the United States in Oman, in which the revival of peace talks with the Taliban was discussed. Hence both Afghanistan and India should also perceive the CPEC project a threat to them. It also pertinent to discuss here that US backing India on CPEC by claiming that it runs through the disputed territory, how self-centered these nations on halting the development on those disputed regions and on the other hand they are concerned with peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.
Summing up the above arguments, as President Ghani said, “Afghanistan’s no unless Pakistan gives access to India through CPEC”, is baseless and seems like under pressure of India. It gives the depiction that US has its own concerns to contain China’s influence in South Asia, India’s concerns to halt this project to contain China and claims over disputed territories. Eventually both the US and India came together on their obnoxious stance on CPEC and now they are influencing Afghanistan against this development. However this project is simply a development project and would bring prosperity and regional connectivity of the whole South Asian region. Afghanistan should not be part of this containment policy instead it should focus on its development and cooperation with all neighboring countries. As far as China and Pakistan are concerned, China would not give up CPEC just because of mere Indian protests. The Indian government will not cease its developmental activities in Arunachal Pradesh either (disputed territory). But is it not important to respect the voices of communities residing in disputed territories as a priority rather than following the institutional norms in developmental activities? From inter-governmental institutions like ADB/World Bank to each country sharing disputed territories like India or China or Pakistan, it is foremost important to stand up with rights to development of communities. Otherwise, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be considered ‘universal’. The CPEC is a flagship of this initiative because it provides China with reliable non-Malacca access to the Indian Ocean. Russia has also backed this initiative.
