ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday moved to address transparency concerns over $46 billion deals under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), coming down hard on critics who have been raising concerns over growing public debt. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar chose a government-funded forum on transparency in the public sector to address apprehensions over transparency in various government deals including CPEC and privatisation transactions. He also rejected allegations that the government was influencing the auditor general of Pakistan (AGP) to give a favourable report on Rs480 billion circular debt payments made in June 2013. “The government is taking all necessary measures to make sure CPEC remains transparent,” Dar said. He vowed there would not be the slightest compromise on the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness at any stage of the project. The government has not yet made public the framework agreement of CPEC signed between China and Pakistan. Dar supported the proposal to make the framework agreement public. In recent days, the government upward revised the cost of road construction projects of CPEC in a haste, which deepened transparency concerns. Dar emphasised that the $46 billion deals would not increase public debt by the same amount, as $34 billion worth projects were in the private sector. He said ‘pseudo-intellectuals’ were misguiding the people over the exact volume of public debt. “During the two-and-a-half-year tenure of the PML-N government, public debt increased only by Rs3.8 trillion,” the finance minister said. According to data released by the State Bank, total public debt stood at Rs18.5 trillion by end of September. Dar said the government was aware that the country cannot be permanently run on borrowings. “Only economic sovereignty will make Pakistan a real nuclear power.” He claimed that economic decisions were made in a transparent manner, adding that the government was streamlining the existing policy making...

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said development projects in Balochistan is the top most agenda of the government of Pakistan. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the western route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Zhob, the premier announced the construction of an international-level airport in Gwadar along side the development of a deep sea port. Addressing a gathering after the inauguration, the premier said, “With the establishment of an airport and a sea port, Balochistan will not only connect with the rest of Pakistan but will also connect with the whole world.” “We believe that Balochistan has the first right over all resources which have been explored in the province.” All developmental projects will be completed by December 2017, PM Nawaz announced, while adding that “the era of prosperity in Pakistan will begin with the completion of these projects in Balochistan.” Further, the premier congratulated Rahila Durrani for being elected as the first-ever female speaker of the Balochistan Assembly. ”It is not only an honour for Balochistan but also for Pakistan that a female assembly speaker has been elected in the province.” Appreciating all political parties for their consensus on CPEC-related projects, PM Nawaz informed those in attendance that a total of Rs200 billion is being spent on the construction of roads in Balochistan, while adding that the Gwadar to Karachi coastal highway will be converted into a motorway. “The 454km road between Hoshab, Panjgur and Suhrab will be completed by December 2016,” the premier announced. Published in http://tribune.com.pk/story/1018615/pm-inaugurates-cpecs-western-route-in-zhob/  

China has its first anti-terrorism law on the books, after the National People’s Congress Standing Committee approved the new legislation on Sunday. The law, which will take effect in January, provides a legal framework for the country’s war on terrorism, a focus of increasing concern for Beijing after attacks at home and abroad jeopardized the lives of its citizens. Abroad, most of the debate about the law focused on its technological provisions. A draft version sparked vocal pushback from the United States, with government officials and businesses alike worried about provisions that could require foreign tech firms to handover proprietary data to Beijing. China defended the law as necessary and in line with international precedents. Notably, the final version of the legislation did not contain some of the most controversial provisions, including requirements for companies to store user data on serves within China and to allow the Chinese government to review their encryption systems. Instead, companies are required to provide “technical means of support” for anti-terror investigations, including decrypting data. They are also told to prevent the spread of materials supporting terrorism or extremism. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang was asked about the changes from the draft to the legislation in a press conference on Monday. He said that the anti-terror law as passed “is the answer to the latest situation and our objective needs” and stressed that it is no different from “relevant legislation [passed] by western countries.” Li Shouwei, from the NPC Standing Committee’s legislative affairs commission, told the press that the new law “will not affect companies’ normal business nor install backdoors to infringe intellectual property rights.” But while the provisions dealing with tech firms have attracted the most attention – thanks to media coverage overseas – other aspects have the potential to be much farther reaching, both for China’s war on terror and its...

China has its first anti-terrorism law on the books, after the National People’s Congress Standing Committee approved the new legislation on Sunday. The law, which will take effect in January, provides a legal framework for the country’s war on terrorism, a focus of increasing concern for Beijing after attacks at home and abroad jeopardized the lives of its citizens. Abroad, most of the debate about the law focused on its technological provisions. A draft version sparked vocal pushback from the United States, with government officials and businesses alike worried about provisions that could require foreign tech firms to handover proprietary data to Beijing. China defended the law as necessary and in line with international precedents. Notably, the final version of the legislation did not contain some of the most controversial provisions, including requirements for companies to store user data on serves within China and to allow the Chinese government to review their encryption systems. Instead, companies are required to provide “technical means of support” for anti-terror investigations, including decrypting data. They are also told to prevent the spread of materials supporting terrorism or extremism. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang was asked about the changes from the draft to the legislation in a press conference on Monday. He said that the anti-terror law as passed “is the answer to the latest situation and our objective needs” and stressed that it is no different from “relevant legislation [passed] by western countries.” Li Shouwei, from the NPC Standing Committee’s legislative affairs commission, told the press that the new law “will not affect companies’ normal business nor install backdoors to infringe intellectual property rights.” But while the provisions dealing with tech firms have attracted the most attention – thanks to media coverage overseas – other aspects have the potential to be much farther reaching, both for China’s war on terror and its...

BEIJING: The Chinese government is in advanced talks with the United States (US) on repatriating five of China's most wanted corruption suspects and will hand over whatever evidence is needed by its US counterparts, the state-run China Daily said on Wednesday. In April, China published a list of 100 of its most wanted corruption suspects who have been targeted with an Interpol red notice, many living in the US, Canada and Australia. About 18 have been recovered so far this year. China's efforts have long been hampered by Western nations that balk at signing extradition deals, partly out of concern about its judicial system. Rights groups say Chinese authorities use torture and the death penalty is common in corruption cases. This month, a United Nations (UN) rights watchdog said torture remained rife in China. China is currently seeking US judicial help in repatriating the five, four of whom are still at large, to face trial in China, the official China Daily quoted an unnamed official with the graft-fighting Central Commission for Discipline Inspection as saying. "We are negotiating with our US counterparts on the five major corrupt fugitives, including Yang Xiuzhu, who is suspected of illegal immigration and is in custody awaiting deportation proceedings," said the official. "And we have decided to conduct joint investigations of the major cases." Yang has filed for asylum in the US. The report did not name the other four suspects. The official said the US had asked China to provide more evidence to help with their investigation, the official said. "We are in advanced negotiations with US judicial authorities on the five major cases, including Yang's, and will exchange information in a timely manner and offer necessary evidence to the US judicial authorities for further investigation," he added, without providing details. Reuters has found that some of China's most wanted are living openly in the US and Canada. Last week, a top Chinese anti-graft official said...