• Both sides agree to soon finalise financing arrangements for first phase of ML-1
• NA body calls for swift action on development, strategic Main Line 1 projects

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday pledged to work closely with China to ensure the security of Chinese citizens, projects and institutions as both nations agreed to soon finalise financing arrangements for the first phase of the Karachi-Peshawar Railway Line — or Main Line 1 (ML-1). The two sides have prioritised the Karachi-Hyderabad section as an immediate focus.

The meeting, held at the Planning Commission, followed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to the Chinese Embassy a day ago, where he expressed condolences for the recent killing of Chinese workers in Karachi.

Led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the session included Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and secretaries of the ministries of foreign affairs, communications, railways and interior. The Chinese delegation was headed by Ambassador Jiang Zaidong.

Mr Iqbal condemned the attack on Chinese nationals, pledging that Pakistan would take “all necessary measures to bring the perpetrators to justice”, as this heinous act was clearly aimed at damaging Pakistan-China relations and would not be tolerated.

He told the Chinese envoy that the safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan remained a top priority and “Pakistan will continue working closely with China to ensure the security of Chinese citizens, projects and institutions”.

He appreciated the recent visit of the Chinese prime minister to Pakistan as a testimony to the robust bilateral relations and emphasised the “need for concrete mechanisms to ensure smooth and effective implementation of bilateral projects”.

He told the ambassador that the ministries concerned were developing their roadmap and action plan for the effective implementation of the consensus reached by the leadership of both countries during the recent visit to make CPEC’s second phase successful and to implement recommendations by the Chinese experts.

“Both sides deliberated on advancing key projects, including the Karachi-Hyderabad section of ML-1 and Karakoram Highway (Thakot-Raikot section) project and agreed to accelerate the projects’ timely execution,” an official statement said.

An official said the ambassador told the meeting that he would coordinate back home to arrange a visit from the Chinese side to finance the Karachi-Hyderabad section.

Regarding the Gwadar Port and Free Zone, both sides expressed a mutual commitment to ensuring the continued development of Gwadar in a holistic manner, the statement said.

Ambassador Jiang expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s comprehensive engagement and recalled that during PM Shehbaz’s visit to China in June, “leaderships of both countries agreed to promote cooperation in politics, international affairs, pragmatic projects and security”. The recent visit of the Chinese premier to Pakistan was the continuity of this cooperation, he added.

Mr Jiang also promised that the Chinese side was ready to collaborate in areas of agriculture, mines and mineral and industrial cooperation on a priority basis and emphasised the need for further strengthening the security of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan.

NA committee meeting

Separately, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Planning and Development also called for swift action on development and strategic ML-1 projects. The meeting was presided over by MNA Farhan Chishti.

The planning ministry briefed the committee on previous project recommendations and reported that several key projects remained unfunded and others had recently been transferred to provincial authorities.

The members raised issues around delays in the allocation of funds and the evolving role of the Public Works Depart­ment (PWD) as its transition was under the new structure. The committee highlighted the pressing need for clarity on the ministry’s operational scope, particularly in terms of overseeing federal development schemes and securing budget allocations for high-priority projects.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2024