ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday reviewed progress on projects included in the Pak-China Economic Corridor (PCEC) and called for their timely completion.

A meeting presided over by the prime minister was informed that Pakistan and China had formulated a ‘timeline matrix’ for each project to be completed under the PCEC.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal briefed the prime minister after their return from China where they had discussed implementation of corridor projects with Chinese authorities.

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Shahbaz Sharif said that Chinese collaboration in development projects was a catalyst in expediting the process of development in the country.

Mr Iqbal said all-out efforts would be made to complete the projects within a span of three years.

The projects include 660MW Port Qasim power plant, 1260MW coal-fired power plant in Sahiwal, 250MW wind power project in Gharo and 660MW coal-fired project in Thar.

While discussing the Gadani power project, the prime minister issued directives for expediting work on jetty at Gadani on a priority basis.

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“These projects will end loadshedding and bring emergence of new industries. China is an earnest trading partner of Pakistan and her cooperation would yield economic benefits in the country,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2014