KARACHI: Pakistan and China are holding a virtual meeting of the 13th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) today, Friday, with the security of Chinese organizations and personnel working in the South Asian nation expected to be at the top of the agenda.
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan but both separatist and other militants have attacked Chinese projects in recent months, killing Chinese personnel, including five Chinese workers who perished in a suicide attack on Mar. 26 while on their way to the Dasu hydropower project in Pakistan’s northwest.
The hydropower project falls under the ambit of CPEC, a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative through which it has pledged more than $65 billion for road, rail and other infrastructure developments in the South Asian nation of 241 million people. Pakistan has said more than 50 projects worth $25 billion under the CPEC umbrella have been completed since the project was launched in 2015.
On Friday, the 13th JCC meeting formally began with a minute of silence in honor of the Chinese nationals killed in the March suicide bombing, with Pakistan’s planning ministry describing them as “heroes of Pakistan” whose contributions had supported the realization of CPEC.
“China and Pakistan have embarked on a journey of shared dreams working hand in hand to build high-quality development projects,” Pakistani Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said in his opening remarks at the meeting. “It is heartening to note the steady progress CPEC has made since its inception in 2013.”
He lauded President Xi Jinping’s vision to forge an “upgraded version” of CPEC and turn it into a growth, livelihood-enhancing, innovation, green and regional connectivity corridor to align it with Pakistan’s 5E socio-economic framework approved last year for the promotion of exports, energy, environment, equity and empowerment.
“We are ready to work with NDRC [National Development and Reform Commission of China] to finalize the scope and implementation plan on these corridors,” Iqbal added.
The minister detailed a number of projects completed so far under CPEC, including the construction of around 888 kilometers of motorways and highways. He said an 884-megawatt hydropower project at Sukhi Kinari, worth $1.7 billion, was under construction and expected to be commissioner later this year.
Three hydel power projects and one coal-based Gwadar power project with a generation capacity of 2,100 megawatts were in advanced stages of completion, Iqbal added.
Beijing has also over the years readily provided financial assistance to bail out its often-struggling neighbor, including in July last year when China granted Pakistan a two-year rollover on a $2.4 billion loan, giving the debt-saddled nation much-needed breathing space as it tackled a balance-of-payments crisis.
But Chinese projects and interests have also increasingly come under attack in recent years.
The Dasu assault in March was the third major one in a little over a week on China’s interests and followed a Mar. 20 attack on a strategic port used by China in the southwestern province of Balochistan, where Beijing has poured billions of dollars into infrastructure projects including a deep-sea port, and a Mar. 25 assault on a naval air base, also in the southwest.
Both attacks were claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most prominent of several separatist groups in Balochistan.
Dasu, the site of a major dam, has been attacked in the past, with a bus blast in 2021 killing 13 people, nine Chinese among them, although no group claimed responsibility, like the Mar. 26 bombing.
Pakistan is home to twin insurgencies, one mounted by religiously-motivated militants and the other by ethnic separatists who seek secession, blaming the government’s inequitable division of natural resources in southwestern Balochistan province.
Chinese interests are mostly under attack primarily by ethnic militants seeking to push Beijing out of mineral-rich Balochistan, but that area is far from the site of the Mar. 26 bombing.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s top economic body approved $2.5 million in compensation for families of Chinese workers who were killed in the Mar. 26 Dasu attack.
Security of Chinese workers tops agenda as Islamabad, Beijing hold key investment meeting
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Security of Chinese workers tops agenda as Islamabad, Beijing hold key investment meeting
- Pakistan has said over 50 projects worth $25 billion under CPEC umbrella completed since 2015
- Chinese interests increasingly under attack in recent years by separatist and other militant groups
Ghulam’s ton inspires Pakistan to 2-1 ODI series win against Zimbabwe
- Pakistan dismiss Zimbabwe for 204 runs in 40.1 overs to win third ODI by 99 runs
- Pakistan’s Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub and Aamir Jamal take two wickets each
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani batter Kamran Ghulam inspired Pakistan to a comfortable win over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Thursday, sealing a 2-1 ODI series victory over the hosts.
Pakistan piled on an impressive 303/6 at the end of their 50 overs against Zimbabwe, with Ghulam leading the charge with his 109-run knock from 99 balls while Abdullah Shafique scored 50 runs from 68 balls.
Pakistani captain Rizwan scored 37 runs from 44 balls as Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza returned figures of 2/47.
“A 99-run win in the third ODI to wrap up a series victory,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a post. “Onto the T20 action.”
Pakistan’s Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf and Saim Ayub took two wickets apiece to ensure Zimbabwe were skittled out for 204 runs in 40.1 overs.
Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine top-scored with a fighting 51 runs from 63 balls.
Pakistan bounced back from a shocking loss in the rain-affected first match with a 10-wicket win in the second, after a maiden ODI century from Ayub.
The tourists retained the same winning combination for the third ODI, with Faisal Akram, Abrar Ahmed and Salman Ali Agha the three spin options.
Zimbabwe brought in wicketkeeper-batter Clive Madande and fast bowling all-rounder Faraz Akram for their first game of the series in place of Brandon Mavuta and Trevor Gwandu.
The ODI series will be followed by a three-match Twenty20 series starting at Bulawayo from Sunday.
Pakistan’s national security directly linked to its economic security— PM Sharif
- Shehbaz Sharif cautions against growing militancy in Pakistan at National Security Workshop
- Reaffirms resolve to form political consensus on key economic reforms among stakeholders
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national security is directly linked to its economic security, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday, stressing the need for united efforts to ensure the country prospers as it grapples with surging militancy and economic challenges.
Pakistan has suffered from a macroeconomic crisis that has seen its foreign exchange reserves fall to historic lows and its currency weaken significantly over the past two years. The South Asian country narrowly avoided a sovereign default last year after it clinched a last-gasp $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Islamabad’s economic crisis has compounded its problems as it deals with a surge in militancy in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan. The country has been struggling to contain attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces from separatist and religiously motivated banned groups.
“I am very convinced that our national security has direct linkage with economic security, and both go hand-in-hand,” Sharif said.
Sharif said Pakistan had suffered economic losses of $130 billion due to the so-called War on Terror, adding that the country only received “a fraction of these losses” from allies. The rest Islamabad had to bear from its coffers, he said.
“This monster has come back and is showing its ugly face again,” the prime minister said. “And as I speak, on a daily basis, there is a sad incident in the south of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Balochistan, anti-Pakistan nefarious elements are driving this nefarious scheme over there through active support of Pakistan’s enemies.”
Sharif reiterated his desire to introduce a “Charter of Economy,” calling for political consensus on key economic reforms.
“Today, as prime minister, I once again reaffirm my resolve for the Charter of Economy,” he said.
In response to a question, Sharif said he agreed the government should not be in business. Rather, he said it should facilitate it.
“I believe Pakistan’s governments, whether it be in the center or provinces, it is not our business to do business,” the premier said.
“We should completely end this and hand it over to the private sector in transparent manner.”
Over 1,100, including 60 ‘illegal’ Afghan nationals, held in Pakistan after pro-Imran Khan protests
- Government has accused PTI of deploying Afghan nationals to take part in anti-government protests
- PTI says at least 20 of its supporters have been killed in security crackdown, government says four troops dead
ISLAMABAD: Authorities have arrested over 1,100 supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan who stormed the capital this week to demand his release, Regional Police Officer Rawalpindi Babar Sarfraz Alpa said on Thursday, saying 60 Afghan nationals living illegally in the country were among those being held.
Clashes broke out between law enforcers and supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party this week after they set out for Islamabad in caravans from different parts of the country to demand the release of Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023.
The government has accused the PTI of deploying Afghan nationals to take part in the anti-government protests.
Speaking at a news conference, Alpa said protesters shot directly at police officers and used teargas while police showed restraint.
“Police have registered 32 cases in the total region and till now have arrested 1,151 suspects successfully,” Alpa told reporters. “When these suspects’ data was checked, it came to light that there were 64 Afghans among them, out of which four have resident cards and 60 are illegal [nationals],” he said.
Police and Khan supporters clashed in Rawalpindi city near Islamabad on Sunday and Monday night, with the government saying four troops were killed. The protesters were dispersed after a late night raid on Wednesday, after which the PTI said at least 20 of its supporters had been killed.
Alpa said at least 170 police officers had been injured in the protests, including senior police officials.
On Wednesday, soon after the Islamabad police chief said Afghans were among those arrested in the protests, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced Afghan citizens would not be allowed to live in the federal capital after Dec. 31 unless they were issued a special certificate by the district administration.
The move is the latest blow to Afghans living in Pakistan, with nearly 800,000 that Islamabad says were residing in the country ‘illegally’ expelled since November last year when the government launched a deportation drive that has drawn widespread criticism from international governments and rights organizations.
Authorities began expelling illegal foreigners from Nov. 1, 2023, following a spike in bombings which the Pakistan government says were carried out by Afghan nationals or by militants who crossed over into Pakistan from neighboring Afghanistan. Islamabad has also blamed illegal Afghan immigrants and refugees for involvement in smuggling and other crimes. The Taliban government in Kabul says Pakistan’s security and other challenges are a domestic issue and cannot be blamed on the neighbor.
World Bank to help Pakistan’s capital combat smog, improve water and sanitation
- Smog has become a pressing environmental and public health concern for Pakistan in winter
- World Bank and CDA plan to work together to prepare a report to identify causes of the problem
ISLAMABAD: World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine met Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday to discuss collaborative efforts to address the growing smog crisis and improve access to clean water and sanitation in urban areas, an official statement said
The smog issue has become a pressing environmental and public health concern in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab’s major cities such as Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad, where Air Quality Index levels reached hazardous levels this winter.
Even Islamabad, which has historically enjoyed better air quality, experienced the problem this year, highlighting the urgency to deal with the issue.
According to the interior ministry, the meeting concluded with an agreement to prepare an anti-smog plan for the federal capital through a joint team of the World Bank and the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
“We are ready to formulate an anti-smog strategy in consultation with the CDA,” Benhassine said, noting that a detailed report would be prepared to help identify the causes of the problem.
Meanwhile, Naqvi said the government was introducing Islamabad Water as a dedicated entity to address the city’s water and sanitation needs.
The minister also noted that clean water and sanitation were among the government’s key priorities.
The World Bank has long supported Pakistan in addressing urban challenges, from infrastructure development to disaster recovery.
In recent years, it has financed significant initiatives, including flood relief and housing projects, to aid vulnerable communities and improve urban resilience.
The collaboration on smog mitigation marks a new milestone, highlighting the growing recognition of air quality as a critical component of sustainable urban development.
Pakistan calls for global climate action as floods in Malaysia displace over 37,000
- PM Sharif says climate change is impacting the whole world, necessitating global community to unite
- Pakistan recently reiterated its call for increased climate finance and justice-based solutions in Baku
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed sorrow over the devastating floods in Malaysia, which have displaced over 37,000 people, and highlighted the urgent need for global action to address climate change.
In a message to the Malaysian authorities and people, Sharif expressed solidarity, pledging support for the flood-hit nation.
His statement comes as Pakistan continues to grapple with its own vulnerability to climate change, which has triggered erratic weather patterns, including catastrophic floods, glacial melts, heatwaves and droughts.
Two years ago, floods in Pakistan killed about 1,700 people, caused estimated losses of $35 billion and underscored the country’s exposure to environmental shocks.
“The adverse effects of climate change are engulfing the entire world,” the prime minister said. “The global community must unite to take collective action to mitigate these impacts.”
At the recent COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, Pakistan reiterated its call for increased climate finance and justice-based solutions to support vulnerable nations.
It emphasized that developed countries must provide grants and concessional financing rather than burdening climate-affected nations with debt.
Pakistani authorities could relate with the situation in Malaysia where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told parliament that torrential rains have affected six Malaysian states, with 322 temporary shelters housing those displaced.
Sharif extended condolences to the victims and assured assistance to Malaysia, noting the long-standing friendship between the two nations.
“Pakistan will do whatever it can to help our brothers and sisters in distress in Malaysia,” he said. “In this difficult hour, Pakistan will not leave Malaysia alone.”
