CPEC PROJECTS WORTH $17BN IN ADVANCE STAGE OF APPROVAL

Several projects worth US$ 17 billion under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are in pipeline and advance stage of approval.

Out of US$ 46 billion to be invested under CPEC initiative in Pakistan, road network, infrastructure and energy projects worth US$ 18 billion are already under full and active implementation phase.

According to official sources in the ministry of planning, development and reform here, the projects are being completed under CPEC at Bin Qasim, Sahiwal, Karakuram Highways, Western Route, Sukkur-Karachi motorway.

He said the CPEC is not only a network of roads, energy projects, infrastructure but it was a framework.

He informed that within two year, energy would be available for every sector after completion of first phase of the initiative.

The early harvest projects under CPEC initiative are moving forward swiftly and first batch including energy and infrastructure projects would be completed by fiscal year 2017-18.

Work on Western route is progressing satisfactorily while Gwadar Airport and Eastbay Expressway in Gwadar are in advanced stages of approval by Chinese side and will have the ground breaking within a couple of months.

The work on technical and vocational training institutes of Gwadar is being carried out to make them operational as early as possible.

With the completion of the early harvest energy projects, 10,000 MW would be added in national grid by 2018.

As much as 17,045 megawatts of energy would be generated through early harvest prioritized as well as actively promoted CPEC projects all across the country to overcome energy crisis, bolstering economic activities and promote growth.

Electricity of 5,785 megawatt would be generated through various hydel, coal, wind and solar projects in Punjab provinces followed by 5,630 megawatt in Sindh, 2,940 megawatt in Balochistan, 870 megawatts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while 1,820 megawatt electricity in Azad Jammu and Kashmir under the project.

Out of the total CPEC energy projects, 10,400 would be generated through early harvest prioritized energy projects including 4,4210 MW in Sindh, 3,640 MW in Punjab, 960 MW in Balochistan, 870 MW in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 720 MW in AJK.

On the other hand, the CPEC the actively promoted energy projects of 6,645 mw included projects of 2,145 mw in Punjab, 1,980 mw in Balochistan, 1,420 mw in Sindh, 1100 in Azad Kashmir.

Pakistan and China had signed an agreement last year to commence work on CPEC development projects worth over $46 billion.

The corridor aims to connect Gwadar port in Balochistan to China’s Xinjiang region via a network of highways, railways and pipelines spread over 3,000 KM. Work on several sections is in progress.