The Federal Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that the ML-1 Railway project under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will increasingly improve the railway infrastructure of the country. Sixty percent work on the construction of Dera Ismail Khan-Hakla Motorway has been completed and is expected to be completed around December. The 660 MW Thar Coal Power Plant under (CPEC) has been inaugurated. Imran Khan said that development and reconstruction of Balochistan is his government’s top priority, which is evident from the province’s enhanced share in CPEC.
CPEC will facilitate the railway infrastructure of Pakistan: Sheikh Rasheed
The Federal Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that the ML-1 Railway project under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will increasingly improve the railway infrastructure of the country.Talking to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Rasheed said that 24 new trains have been started by Pakistan. The launch of these new trains will facilitate people in conveyance furthermore, this project is expected to increase the revenue. He assured that more projects coming, will prove to be beneficial for the railway system.[i]
60% construction of DI Khan-Hakla Motorway completed
60% on the construction of Dera Ismail Khan-Hakla Motorway has been completed and is expected to be completed around December this year. The 285-kilometer-long motorway is part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).The project will be completed at a cost of 129 billion rupees .To ensure timely completion of the project, Hakla- DI Khan Motorway has been divided in five sections. Upon completion, the motorway will boost trade and business activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan.[ii]
660 MW Thar Coal Power Plant under CPEC inaugurated
The 660 MW Thar Coal Power Plant under (CPEC) has been inaugurated. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday inaugurated the Thar coal power project which has the capacity to generate 660 megawatts, consisting of two power generation units of 330MW each and said to be the highest man-made structure in Pakistan. Bilawal said that the Thar coal power project validates the 18th Amendment as it shows the potential of the provinces when they have control over their own resources. He also said that the project was a product of the public-private partnership model that his party had pursued over the past few years.[iii]
Imran Khan reviews CPEC projects ahead of second visit to China
Imran Khan said that development and reconstruction of Balochistan is his government’s top priority, which is evident from the province’s enhanced share in CPEC. The Prime Minister, who is scheduled to embark on his second visit to Beijing later this month, reviewed preparations regarding mutually beneficial projects that Pakistan and China are expected to initiate further as part of the CPEC. In the second phase, under the incumbent government, agriculture, education, health, water, skill-based education, skill development, transport projects and upgrading of Main Line-1 will be the primary focus. The meeting was also attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Mahboob Sultan, Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan and other government officials.[iv]
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[i]CPEC to Further Improve Railways Situation: Rasheed. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2019, from http://www.radio.gov.pk/13-04-2019/cpec-to-further-improve-railways-situation-rasheed
[ii] Sixty percent construction of DI Khan-Hakla Motorway completed. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2019, from https://arynews.tv/en/construction-di-khan-hakla-motorway-completed/
[ii]CPEC to Further Improve Railways Situation: Rasheed. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2019, from http://www.radio.gov.pk/13-04-2019/cpec-to-further-improve-railways-situation-rasheed
[iii] Thar Coal Power Plant Validates 18th Amendment, Says Bilawal. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2019, from https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/04/10/thar-coal-power-plant-validates-18th-amendment-says-bilawal/
[iv]Government to focus on agriculture and education in CPEC’s second phase: PM. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2019, from https://www.dawn.com/news/1475438/pm-khan-reviews-cpec-projects-ahead-of-second-china-visit