Cabinet Committee on CPEC Approves Realignment of Karakoram Highway
The Cabinet Committee on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CCoCPEC) approved the realignment of the Karakoram Highway from Thakot to Raikot, construction of the CPEC Business and Industrial Cooperation Tower, and asked to provide basic amenities, including electricity, to Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
The meeting of the CCoCPEC was held in Islamabad today, chaired by the Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms, and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar. Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Omar Ayub Khan, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on CPEC, Affairs Khalid Mansoor, and other relevant stakeholders attended the meeting.
The participants of the meeting discussed a six-point agenda pertaining to various matters of CPEC Projects.
The CCoCPEC approved a summary presented by the Ministry of Communication for the realignment of the Karakoram Highway from Thakot to Raikot due to the construction of dams on the River Indus (250km).
After deliberating over a summary presented by the Petroleum Division, the CCoCPEC directed concerned authorities and divisions to expedite the provision of basic amenities, including electricity, to Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
During the meeting, the implementation plan for the vacation of PCG and PN land at Shamba Ismail, Gwadar, was also discussed at length. The PD&SI Minister directed the relevant stakeholders to hand over 52 acres of land. The meeting was informed that the concerned authority was interested to keep 20 acres of land due to security reasons.
Likewise, the meeting participants considered recommendations of the Committee on Development of Maritime Affairs Gwadar under Various Modalities. The Board of Investment (BoI) briefed the meeting regarding CPEC business, plans for an industrial cooperation tower, and assessment of investment potential of Gwadar Free Zone.
After deliberation, the CCoCPEC approved the CPEC Business and Industrial Cooperation Tower to provide state-of-the-art working facilities to investors and businesses.