BEIJING: The 8th meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be held on Dec 20.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar heading a delegation comprising chief ministers of Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan and senior officials of the ministries and departments concerned is leaving for Beijing today to attend the meeting, a senior official told APP on Monday.

During the meeting the two sides will discuss upgradation of the main railway line from Peshawar to Karachi, extension of Thakot-Raikot section of Karakorum Highway (KKH) and construction of a new international airport at Gwadar. The establishment of a hospital and a technical education school and a power plant in Gwadar will also be discussed.

Besides, the JCC meeting will also discuss setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and cooperation to speed up the industrialisation process in the country.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2018