Proposal for industrial hubs on CPEC sought from provinces

Islamabad
As the implementation phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) begins, the federal government has sought proposals from all provinces for setting up industrial hubs whereas the bidding process of four priority projects of CPEC has also started. The Chinese companies selected for these projects will start working by the end of October this year, The News has learnt.
CPEC Project Director Maj Gen (R) Dr Zahir Shah told The News that China has shared some ideas for industrial cooperation as part of CPEC and both the governments are working for setting up industrial zones in Pakistan.
“Initially, China would select a few places for the industrial zones and see if there is any potential; then they would further expand the zones. The deliberations on the matter are underway and once consensus is built between the two governments, a joint working group would be created for the industrial zones,” said Shah.
The bidding process for the four priority projects highlighted by China has
started this month and the Chinese companies have also started participating in the process which would be shortlisted by the end of this month. However, work on these projects would start by the end of October 2015, he said.
When asked whether any Pakistani company is participating in the bidding for these four priority projects, the project director said as per Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), only Chinese companies would work on these projects as the investment on these projects are being made by China.
To a question whether China has any priority areas for setting up the industrial zones keeping the security situation in view, Shah said there are no priority areas of the industrial zones as initially only a few places would be picked up for pilot projects. When China sees any potential in these areas, the industrial zones would be expanded further.
He said many delegations from China are visiting
various parts of Pakistan whereas China Overseas Port Holding Company would have free zone on Gwadar Port
and the companies could
take benefit from this opportunity.
The target set for completion of these four priority projects including Karakorum Highway (KKH) Thaakot –Havelian Section, Peshawar to Karachi Motorway (Multan-Sukkur section), Gwadar East-Bay Express Way and New Gwadar International Airport has been set by December 2017.
Talking about the security concerns, Shah said on August 03, 2015 a high level meeting was held in this regard in which the representatives of all the law enforcement agencies participated. During the meeting, it has been decided that the overall responsibility of providing security to Chinese firms and workers has been assigned to Special Security Division (SSD).
Security structure would work in three layers – as per first layer, the companies would provide internal security to its workers whereas second layer of security would be provided by the district governments of the respective areas and third layer would be consisted of SSD which would monitor and supervise the overall security matters.
During the meeting, he said it was informed that a serving major general has been designated as head of SSD which would start deployment of its personnel by the end of this year. He said work on Western Route is in full swing and this would be completed by the end of December 2016. This route is being built as per the international standards, he commented.
He said that the energy projects which also are part of the CPEC including Port Qasim Coal Power plant 1320 Megawatt (MW), Sahiwal Coal Power Plant 1320 MW, Thar Coal Power plant 660 MW, Dawood Wind Power Project 50 Megawatt in Thatha, UEP Wind Power Plant 100 MW Thatha, Sachal Wind Power plant 50 MW Thatha are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017.
Electricity generation is not the only part of this project as a transmission line from Matiari to Lahore via Faisalabad would also be laid down whereas later this transmission line would also be connected from Matiari to Port Qasim, he further informed. He further said that the work on LNG Pipeline project from Gwadar to Nawabshah would also start soon.
He said railway infrastructure feasibility report which is also part of CPEC has been completed last month and work on this project would start next year. The pilot project for the digitalization of TV has already been completed and work on the cross border optical fiber cable system project has been started as well.
Asked about any measures to counter the conspiracies against the CPEC, Shah
said this project is only for peace, prosperity, development and harmonization and there is no other intention. Therefore, he said any neighbouring country should
have no concerns about the project.