Islamabad, Nov 15, 2018: The meetings of Joint Working Groups of Gwadar and Planning via video-conference were held here on Thursday. The meetings were co-chaired by Zafar Hasan, Secretary Planning, Development & Reform (PD&R) from Pakistan side and XIA Qing, Director General National Development and Reform Commission of China. Officials from line ministries, provincial governments and embassies attended the meetings.
Secretary PD&R, Zafar Hasan said on the occasion that government attaches top priority to development of Gwadar as a gateway of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that will open new avenues of cooperation between Pakistan and China. He said that the importance of CPEC as a strategic alternative is immense, leveraging the economic opportunities that it can unleash may trump its strategic significance and bring prosperity, peace as well as stability in the whole region.
While expressing satisfaction on progress of CPEC project, he said that Government of Pakistan gives extreme importance to the development of Gwadar as a standalone. “Both sides need to take immediate measures so that the city developments plans can be undertaken as per agreed timelines. He also appreciated progress of Gwadar Free Zone, City Master Plan, Eastbay Expressway and development of port. 

On the occasion, both side agreed to expedite implementation of Gwadar projects, particularly development of Gwadar social sector and probono projects, recommending New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), China-Pakistan Friendship Hospital Gwadar and Vocational & Technical Institute as main deliverable to Joint Cooperation Committee. 

While Chairing meeting of JWG on Planning, Zafar Hasan felicitated that CPEC in last 5years have shown tremendous progress with the help of sound planning for a win-win outcome, to guarantee the expeditious, stable and sustainable development of CPEC. He highlight that the recent visit of the Prime Minister to China and the Joint communiqué heralds a new chapter in China-Pakistan relationship and CPEC.

He informed that Government of Pakistan looks forward to working with China in new areas focusing on socio-economic development, cooperation in agriculture modernization, value chains, and poverty alleviation goals. He mentioned that MoU for JWG on Socio-Economic Cooperation was approved during the visit of the Prime Minister. “Within socio-economic development, the Government is particularly focusing on education, medical treatment, poverty alleviation, water supply and vocational training” he added.

He remarked that Government of Pakistan is also keen to explore avenues of cooperation in agriculture sector such as cooperate in improving land related matter including land fragmentation, land consolidation, land settlement, land use zoning, land use planning, land pooling and cooperative farming, establish food processing industry in 9 SEZs under CPEC to boost food sector export, cooperate in conservation of genetic resources for livestock, poultry and aquatic products, conduct joint research, cooperate in field of water conservation and management through use of water efficient technologies, . 

Both sides agreed to promote socio-economic development and finalize a way forward for future cooperation in order to ensure early identification and implementation of projects.