Beijing: Pakistan and China injected new vigour into multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with a push to extend flagship programme of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to Afghanistan.

Joint statement was issued after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Beijing where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Le Keqiang and other senior leaders who spoke about range of issues covering CPEC, trade and commercial ties, regional and other international issues. While joint statement did not mention that China would consider Pakistan’s request for restructuring of $ 6.3 billion debt, two sides agreed to build on consensus on ML-1, a key strategic project of CPEC, for its earlier implementation. “Recognising that ML-1 is a project of key significance under CPEC framework and of importance to Pakistan’s socio-economic development, two sides agreed to build upon leadership consensus and to advance process of its earliest implementation.

They agreed to actively advance Karachi Circular Railway, which was an urgent requirement for Pakistan’s biggest city,” joint statement read.

ML-1 has long faced delays which have led to a substantial increase in its cost from original $ 6.6 billion to $ 10 billion. PM Shehbaz briefed Chinese leadership on post-flood relief and rehabilitation efforts.

 Chinese side expressed its resolve to stand by Pakistan in these difficult times and to continue offering assistance.

Two sidesagreed to fully leverage overland trade and exchanges by upgrading facilities at Khunjerab Border, port and strengthening cooperation on epidemic containment and Customs clearance in border areas. They agreed to work together to further strengthen the implementation of Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement which is an important pillar of regional connectivity.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 03 2022

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