Islamabad: Pakistan and China are likely to sign various development projects with regard to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative in April 2019 – a new source reported.
A team of Chinese experts is due to visit Pakistan in the last week of February. These officials will discuss several projects related to the agriculture and social sectors.
Hassan Daud Butt, project director of CPEC, confirmed that a Chinese delegation will visit Pakistan in February. He said that the ministries concerned will discuss their projects with China’s National Development Reforms Commission (NDRC).
Officials of both the countries will discuss the framework of these projects in March. The two sides will finalise the agreements in April. Butt further stated that several projects will be launched in less-developed areas of the country, such as Chitral.
Moreover, Pakistan is also trying to secure a deal with the Axiom Bank of China for the development of special economic zones (SEZs). The government hopes to establish nine SEZs under the CPEC framework.
To facilitate this end, Beijing has asked Islamabad to ensure the provision of electricity, gas and other facilities in the proposed SEZs.
