Inauguration of New Gwadar International Airport likely this year

GAWADAR-Caretaker Minister for Finance, Planning and Development Dr Shamshad Akhtar said that substantive growth has been made in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects during the last five years whereas a total of 22 projects worth around $28.6 billion in CPEC portfolio were still under implementation.
Addressing the 55th CPEC Progress Review meeting on July 10 she said that after the significant achievements of the last five years, more projects are expected to be under operation including groundbreaking of New Gawadar International Airport this year, which in itself is a huge milestone for CPEC.
`Moreover, further cooperation under CPEC is expected in the future for the development of infrastructure projects such as ML-1 upgradation, Karachi Circular Railway, road projects as well as industrial cooperation,` she added.
Dr Shamshad Akhtar assured the participants that CPEC projects will not be impacted by the transition between governments underway in Pakistan these days.`It is our job to make sure that CPEC projects are completed according to the agreed timelines and terms,` she said.
She emphasised the deep ties of friendship that exist between Pakistan and China, saying that `China is the cornerstone of Pakistan`s foreign policy and strategic cooperative partnership is moving from strength to strength.
The minister emphasised to further expedite work on projects at Gawadar and the Special Economic Zones that are not only of vital importance in the portfolio of CPEC but for the local population as well.
She was of the view that one of the main gains from CPEC is the trade and industry development and cooperation to ensure sustainable economic growth and shape new industry clusters as well as taking the fruits of CPEC to lesser developed regions of Pakistan.
She pointed out that both countries need to aggressively pursue the mega initiative to shape a new international logistics network in the region and promote regional economic integration through international economic, trade and technological cooperation and people to people exchanges.
Dr Akhtar further said that the two countries will make full use of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms to form synergy, give each other support and learn from each other so as to complement and fully display each other`s strengths.
The meeting was attended by Chinese Ambassador, Yao Jing, Secretary Planning and Development, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, Project Director CPEC Hassan Daud and officials from line ministries and provincial governments as well as Chinese companies.
Officials from the Board of Investment, National Highway Authority, Ministry of Energy, Railway, Maritime Affairs and Gwadar Development Authority have presented detail progress on the CPEC projects.