QUETTA: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong on Thursday met officials and political leaders as scheduled.

The ambassador and a Chinese delegation, including the consul general in Karachi, had been staying at Serena Hotel since their arrival in Quetta a few days ago, but they were not present there when a car bomb explosion took place at the hotel on Wednesday night.

After the blast, the Chinese envoy and members of his delegation were shifted to another place.

The Chinese ambassador met Adviser to the Chief Minister on Sports and Culture Abdul Khaliq Hazara, who is also chairman of the Hazara Democratic Party, and discussed with him various issues related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

A delegation of the National Party (NP), headed by former senator Abdul Kabir Mohammad Shahi, also met the ambassador. Dr Ishaq Baloch, Khair Jan Baloch and NP’s provincial president Abdul Khaliq Baloch were also present on the occasion.

They informed the Chinese envoy that Balochistan did not benefit from the CPEC projects as the people of Gwadar were still deprived of basic amenities. They suggested involving local people in the uplift process so that they could feel ownership in the development.

The NP leaders said their party was not against development but wanted partnership in the development process. They asked the Chinese envoy to provide maximum scholarships to the students from Balochistan for vocational and technical training.

The ambassador assured the NP leaders that serious steps would be taken for implementation of the CPEC projects.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2021