The Main Line-1 (ML-1) project, which will modernise the Pakistan Railway network as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is currently in final negotiations. This project would assist in upgrading and dualizing the 1,733 kilometres of railway track that connects Peshawar and Karachi.
A curtain-raiser event was organised on Thursday at the Planning Ministry to commemorate the CPEC’s tenth anniversary and the approaching 12th Joint Cooperation Committee JCC.
The Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, the Secretary of the Planning Commission, Syed Zafar Ali Shah, the Chief Economic of Pakistan, Dr. Nadeem Javaid, who is also the Executive Director of the CPEC, the Chinese Charge d’Affaires to Pakistan, Pang Chunxue, Chinese state-owned enterprises, and representatives from various ministries all attended the event.
As it marks a decade of outstanding accomplishments in promoting economic growth, infrastructural improvement, and regional connectivity, the CPEC enters a key milestone. The CPEC Secretariat, working in tandem with the Planning Ministry, is organising a number of events as part of the 10-year festivities, including conferences abroad, academic meetings, performances by local artists, and other activities all throughout the nation.
The planning minister noted that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its flagship CPEC project have had a successful ten years in his remarks at the event.
The minister claimed that when China first announced its BRI transcontinental initiative, it chose Pakistan for its flagship project, the CPEC. According to the minister, the two nations have grown close over the past ten years in a variety of industries and refer to one another as “iron brothers.”
Charge de’Affair The relationship between China and Pakistan has a rich historical foundation, broad public backing, and pressing practical requirements, Pang Chunxue emphasised in her speech. China is steadily developing its modernization under the able direction of President Xi Jinping. She said, “With new achievements in Chinese modernization, China will provide new opportunities for the development of countries including Pakistan.” Pang agreed.
According to the data, the initial stage of CPEC development has generated almost 200,000 direct jobs for locals, including engineers. The Main Line-1 (ML-1) project, which is part of CPEC, is in its last stages of negotiation and aims to modernise the Pakistan Railway system. The 1733 kilometres of railway track between Peshawar and Karachi will be upgraded and dualized thanks to this project.
The improvement of people-to-people connectivity is another important aspect of CPEC. Before Covid-19, over 28,000 Pakistani students were enrolled in diverse fields of study in China, demonstrating the power of goodwill ambassadors. Future scholars have a valuable opportunity to learn about Chinese culture, business methods, and practises directly by studying and receiving training there. In addition, China is offering numerous scholarships in addition to training courses.
