KCR top priority of CPEC Authority, chairperson tells Sindh CM

Karachi Circular Railway is on the top priority of the CPEC Authority, its chairperson, General (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa, told Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah during a meeting on Friday.

Gen (retd)Bajwa said he would pursue
the already approved project and the new project with Chinese authority so that
work on them could be started.

The chief minister said that three
projects of Sindh, Karachi Circular Railway, China Special Economic Zone
Dhabeji and Keti Bandar, have been approved under the CPEC. He added that only
their financial mechanism was yet to be finalised. 

Talking about KCR, Shah said that
framework agreement between Pakistan and the Chinese Planning Commission, known
as NDRC, will be signed soon.

A concessional agreement between China
and Pakistan is being prepared too.

The CPECA chairperson told the chief minister that the Chinese president was expected to visit
Pakistan between May and June this year, therefore all the formalities and
documentation of the CPEC-related projects should be completed by then.

They decided that a 105-kilometer
railway line will be constructed from Chhor to Islamkot to transport coal from
Thar Coal field to Port Qasim. and install 1,320 MegaWatt in Thar Coal Block-VI
under CPEC-related projects.

The chief minister said that he has
earmarked 1,530 acres of land for China Special Economic Zone Dhabeji, a CPEC
priority project.

He added that Dhabeji Zone has many
advantages such as access to Port Qasim and Jinnah Terminal, which is hardly 35
kilometers via National Highway, enabling safe travel of foreign workers and
management personal.

The Keti Bandar Project is an important
part of the Sindh government’s strategy towards developing the Energy sector, said
the CM.

Other CPEC related projects were discussed too, including two major potential
projects based in Thar that were discussed during the 9^thJCC meeting
held on November 5, 2019.

Article source: https://www.samaa.tv/news/pakistan/2020/02/kcr-top-priority-of-cpec-authority-chairperson-tells-sindh-cm/