PM stresses need for Pak-China agreement on disaster management
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects within the stipulated timeframe as a national priority and directed to expedite work on these projects.
He said this while chairing a meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday to review progress on CPEC and other Chinese projects.
The Prime Minister said Main Line-One is a flagship project of CPEC and a game changer for Pakistan. He said ML-1 will ensure rail connectivity with Central Asian States and lead to development and prosperity of the entire region.
He said ML-1 will play a cardinal role in the economic development of the country by connecting Pakistani seaports with China and Central Asian States. It will also ensure economic revival and development of Pakistan Railways.
Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the investment from Chinese companies in Pakistan’s solar power projects. He said the government is completing the CPEC projects on priority basis, which were stalled during last four years of the previous government.
The Prime Minister said CPEC is entering Business to Business phase from Government to Government stage. He said now an era of industrial development is going to begin in Pakistan under CPEC.
Shehbaz Sharif said Karachi Circular Railways project will reduce traffic issues of the citizens and provide them safe travel facilities.
The meeting was given a detailed briefing about infrastructure projects, especially, ML-1, Karachi Circular Railways, Karakoram Highway, and other initiatives. A comprehensive strategy was presented in the meeting on current position of the CPEC projects and pace of work on them.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that he would like to sug gest to the Chinese delegation, currently on a visit to Pakistan, to sign an agreement with Pakistan on disaster management before returning to their country.
He was talking to a special delegation of experts of China’s disaster management department, Xu Xianbiao in Islamabad.
He said that he and the entire nation was thankful to the government and the people of China for extending support to Pakistan during floods. “No doubt, China has always helped Pakistan in crisis,” he said, adding this was most apt example of a longstanding relationship between the two countries.
PM Shehbaz further said that several places in Sindh and Balochistan were still under floodwater.
