Pakistan powers ahead through economic partnership

Through enhanced cooperation, country produces its own electricity

The construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has played a vital role in transforming Pakistan into an electricity-rich country, reducing the cost of energy production and driving the local economy, said senior officials.

The CPEC is a landmark project in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

In 2015, the governments of China and Pakistan determined the cooperation layout with the economic corridor as the center and Gwadar Port, energy, transportation infrastructure and industrial cooperation as its focus.

According to the latest statistics released on the website of the CPEC Affairs Bureau, up to now, the total production capacity of energy projects completed under the CPEC has reached 5.32 million kilowatts.

Khalid Mansoor, special assistant to the Pakistani prime minister on CPEC affairs, said the power capacity provides electricity for residential and industrial use, saving Pakistan from prolonged power outages.

Mansoor said another major contribution of the CPEC in the energy sector is the Matiari-Lahore 660 kV direct current transmission project.

The project has solved the problem of Pakistan's power transmission and distribution with advanced technology, reduces power line losses and improves Pakistan's power transmission network.

Mansoor said that as Pakistan's energy supply is guaranteed, the next stage of high-quality development of the CPEC will start the process of Pakistan's industrialization, expand electricity demand in the industrial sector, then achieve the goals of import substitution and improve export levels, so that Pakistan can transform economically.

Mansoor said that cooperation in the agricultural sector of the CPEC is another of the priorities of the Pakistani government, and Pakistan hopes to benefit from and put into practice the experience and achievements of China's agricultural development.

Mansoor said that the Pakistani government will provide one-stop services for foreign investors including those from China, and strive to create convenient conditions for foreigners to invest in Pakistan and for enterprises to save time and costs for enterprises.

"The prime minister specifically instructed me to make the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Affairs Bureau a center that truly provides convenience for all Chinese investors," Mansoor said.

Last year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.

China and Pakistan are a fraternal strategic partnership of cooperation. The relationship between Pakistan and China has become a model of state-to-state relations in the world. Conduct between the two countries on the CPEC has also become a model of cooperation for the benefit of the people in the world, said Pakistani President Arif Alvi.

The CPEC is about 3,000 kilometers long and covers a series of infrastructure projects.

It connects the port city of Gwadar in southwestern Pakistan with China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region through a network of roads and railways.

Alvi said the CPEC is a unique form of cooperation.

"Since the launch of the CPEC, it has brought tremendous development to Pakistan's economy and people's lives, and China's development has provided Pakistan with valuable experience.

"Pakistan had a severe shortage of energy, so the initial cooperation was based on energy cooperation. And in the future, we will have more cooperation in many fields, including agriculture, health and poverty reduction－China has made great progress in poverty reduction, providing experience for other countries in the world. I think the CPEC has had a huge impact on Pakistan's economy, helping people find jobs and get out of poverty," he said.

Among the many achievements of the CPEC, Alvi emphasized the development of Gwadar Port and the free trade zone. He believes that due to its location, the development of Gwadar is crucial to strengthening connectivity and peaceful development among regions such as South, East and Central Asia.

According to the plan, Gwadar Port will be able to handle 400 million metric tons of goods every year after completion, and it is expected to become a maritime transfer station for regional transshipment, warehousing and transport. Although Gwadar Port is still under construction, operations have begun in some areas, and the port is currently capable of handling bulk carriers of some 30,500 tons and Panamax container ships of 52,000 tons.

Alvi said that the full operation of Gwadar Port, the construction of the new Gwadar International Airport, and an oil refinery and special economic zone will bring employment opportunities to Balochistan Province and promote national economic development and prosperity.

Gwadar will become a developed port city and regional economic center, opening up export channels to the Indian Ocean for Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and other countries, and driving the development of those countries.

Ying Xiong, an official of the leading group for promoting the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, said: "After years of joint arduous efforts by China and Pakistan, the construction of Gwadar Port has made substantial progress by leaps and bounds. Supporting infrastructure, social development and people's livelihood is the comprehensive development pattern of the organization. Both parties agree that Gwadar Port will make greater contributions to the connectivity of Pakistan and the entire region in the future."

Zhang Baozhong, chairman of China Overseas Port Holdings, said that after taking over the operation rights of Gwadar Port and the free zone in 2013, the company has focused on increasing investment in port facilities, environmental improvement and business expansion.

It has repaired port facilities, expanded the terminal yard and added five container bridge cranes and container scanning equipment.

The company also introduced an advanced customs clearance system, connected optical fibers to improve the network and improved customs clearance efficiency.

The renovation of offices and dormitory buildings, the construction of seawater desalination plants, and the expansion of the port's green area to 10,000 square meters have greatly improved living conditions and the port's environment.