Pak-China Economic Corridor Council launched in Islamabad

[amoy]

Pak-China Economic Corridor Council launched in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD - The Pak-China Economic Corridor Council (PCECC) was launched on Wednesday in Pakistani capital of Islamabad, vowing to facilitate and assist in the successful and quick execution of all the projects under the Belt and Road initiatives in the country.

The PCECC, an initiative by senior Pakistani parliamentarians and politicians, keeps representation of like-minded people from all walks of life, including local elites, individuals from chamber of commerce, tribal elders, experts, analysts, businessmen and industrialists.

Patron-in-Chief of the PCECC Abdul Malik, who is also the chief minister of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province that owns Gwadar port, said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a window of fresh air, but now it has been transformed into a " window of opportunities" for Pakistan and the whole region.

"Planning, performance measuring of the projects, coordination between the business institutions of the two countries, playing role to declare twin cities between Pakistan and China, facilitation and assistance to Chinese investors and experts, improving health and education, promoting culture and tourism in both countries" are the salient features of a 12-point agenda of the council.

Chairman of the council Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood said the aim of the council is to offer a platform for the individuals who want to render their services and expertise to the CPEC.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, declaring the CPEC as a "fate changer" for Pakistan, said the CPEC will integrate the entire region and bring an economic revolution also for the three billion population of the region.

"I feel very proud after signing the CPEC documents from Pakistan side because I know this historical project will open a gate of opportunities for all areas and people of Pakistan," said Iqbal.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong appreciated the effort to establish the council and said he believed the establishment of the council would bring more momentum to the future construction of CPEC.

Talking about the progress of the CPEC, Sun said, "We are now focused on the four major areas of energy, transport infrastructure, industrial parks and Gwadar Port and the CPEC has gradually entered into implementation from planning."

 

[salute]

nice now paki gonna be extorting china for free stuff.

 

[amoy]

Pakistanis evacuated from Yemen with China's help arrive in Islamabad


A Pakistani boy evacuated from Yemen holds Chinese and Pakistani national flags at Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, April 3, 2015. A group of 176 Pakistani nationals, who had been stranded in the war-torn Yemen and evacuated by a Chinese vessel, arrived in Islamabad on Friday, aviation authorities said. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

ISLAMABAD, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A group of 176 Pakistani nationals, who had been stranded in the war-torn Yemen and evacuated by a Chinese vessel, arrived in Islamabad on Friday, aviation authorities said.

A Pakistan International Airlines plane had air-lifted the stranded Pakistanis from Djibouti early in the morning.

These stranded Pakistanis were brought to Djibouti by a Chinese ship on Thursday, the foreign ministry said.

Special Advisor to Prime Minister on Aviation Shujjat Azim received the passengers at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport along with families and friends of the evacuees. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was also presented at the airport.

Pakistan welcomed the Chinese help that ensured the safe evacuation of the nationals who had faced with problems to leave Yemen by air.

"As all-weather friends, Pakistan and Chinese cooperation in ensuring safe evacuation of our citizens has also been exemplary," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told Xinhua on Friday.

"To ensure earliest possible evacuation, we enlisted Chinese support, since their ships were already in the region evacuating their nationals from Aden to Djibouti,"she said.

Senior Pakistani lawmakers also hailed the Chinese cooperation at a time when the stranded Pakistanis had no option to leave Yemen by air and road.

Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Defence, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, said that China's timely rescue of stranded Pakistanis from Yemen proves the old adage that "a friend in need is a friend indeed."

"This is, of course, not the first time that China has come to Pakistan's rescue in difficult moments, hence, Pakistanis term China as our 'all-weather friend' and 'iron brother," Mushahid told Xinhua on Friday.

"This new role of China is a matter of pride for Pakistan and its people since China's peaceful, positive projection of naval capabilities in the Indian Ocean for providing humanitarian assistance in an emergency augurs well for stability, peace and security in Asia. It is also a fine example of Asians helping fellow Asians, demonstrating Asian solidarity to serve humanity," said Mushahid.

Pakistani media also gave wide coverage to the Chinese help in evacuation of Pakistanis from Yemen.

"Yemen: Pakistanis board Chinese vessel for evacuation to Djibouti," leading English daily "The News" reported on its website shortly after the stranded Pakistanis left Yemen.

A major TV channel "Dunya" reported "Another 200 Pakistani nationals still stuck in war-hit Yemen will be evacuated by a Chinese ship from Aden to Djibouti on Thursday."

The Pakistani foreign ministry said there were around 3,000 Pakistanis in Yemen and close to 2,000 left on the country's embassy's advice and the remaining who did not leave at that time are being evacuated now.

Some of these Pakistanis are settled there, who either have their businesses and jobs there or married to locals.