Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has been holding talks here with China’s Vice Minister of Transport, Mr. Li Ying. Minister Iqbal conveyed to China his thanks for the continued transportation sector support and remarked upon the transformational nature of CPEC projects, particularly the Multan-Sukkur Motorway and the Hazara Expressway, which have greatly shortened travel dimensions and opened up new avenues for growth in Pakistan.
Minister Iqbal stressed the necessity to expedite major infrastructure projects, including the Karachi-Hyderabad Section, ML-1, and the Karakoram Highway Phase II. He also mentioned the construction of the Mashkhel to Panjgur Highway in Balochistan, which would bring the mineral corridor complement to the region. Vice Minister Li Ying welcomed the idea and reconfirmed the commitment of China to advance cooperation towards these projects.
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Accordingly, both sides agreed to move ahead with plans of constructing an expressway connecting Gwadar Port to New Gwadar Airport. Besides, they agreed to conduct feasibility studies for new motorways, including from Mirpur to Muzaffarabad, Karachi to Hyderabad.
Later, a meeting took place between, the Minister and Ms. Wang Shunning, President of the Export-Import Bank of China. This meeting discussed Pakistan’s development of an economic recovery agenda and the current government’s reforms in the energy and tax sectors. Minister Ahsan Iqbal thanked the bank for its projects financing Pakistan’s space satellite project and exhibited optimism on approval of the Space Center project as he considers space technology vital for future development.
Ms. Wang Shunning praised Pakistan’s strides in economic recovery and reiterated China’s firm partnership with Pakistan, promising to offer continued assistance towards the achievement of development objectives established by Pakistan. She expressed concern that China places great value on its historical relationship with Pakistan and would keep on supporting it toward the prosperity of the country.