PM says Pakistan can grab vast benefits out of Chinese BRI

Anwaar-ul-Haq for enhancing Pak-Uzbek ties

Kakar congratulates Pakistani teacher Sister Zeph for winning Global Teacher Prize

ISLAMABAD, Nov 10 (APP):Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has said that Pakistan could transform its economic position by tapping the potential of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

“I expect that Pakistan would be a very important partner in this journey with this BRI initiative,” he said in an interview with the Chinese media group CGTN. He said Pakistan could get a big push from the BRI. “This is a great opportunity knocking right at our door…President Xi is asking us to come and grab that opportunity and I am hopeful that we can do that,” he remarked.

Replying to a query regarding the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said the early harvest programme which was the first phase of CPEC had already been realized that encompassed development of Gwadar Port, road and air connectivity, and the energy projects.

He said before the launch of CPEC, Pakistan was energy deficient country, however some 8000 MW of energy had been contributed to the national grid under the mega project.

He maintained that the projects under CPEC had brought positive results among common people especially those belonging to the province of Baluchistan. “We are expecting and hoping that the transformation from first phase to second phase which of course will be dependent on the transformation and diversification of industrialization specially in Special Economic Zones (SEZs),” he added.

He said the second phase would actually bring job creation, more livelihoods and further enhancing infrastructure in Pakistan. He explained that BRI would help enhancing global connectivity and the connectivity between oceans and lands to such level that seemed to be unprecedented in the documented human history. “Mankind has never seen such depth of physical connectivity with one another which definitely does stimulate our civilizational and cultural connectivity.”

Replying to a question about his recent visit to Xinjiang- the North Western area of China, the prime minister said since it was the bordering area of Pakistan’s Northern area Gilgit Baltistan, therefore it was very important for Pakistan.“We can not only develop lot of tourism in that region but also in rest of Pakistan through that connectivity. ”He said China was a natural and reliable ally of Pakistan in all the three domains including security, politics and economics.

The prime minister stressed the need to promote bilateral cultural exchanges, people to people interactions, tourism and also collaboration of media houses from both countries. The host reminded the prime minister that his China Media Group had recently signed an agreement of mutual cooperation with the Pakistan’s news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

The prime minister said this was important as “we need diversified approach for different media and cultural entities for different mediums including digital, electronic space, and content creation”. Responding to a query about the personality of President Xi Jinping, the prime minister said he saw a wise man in him. “I see a profound and the depth of ocean in him and I see that we should seek more inspiration from his leadership as there is a lot which can be learned and I am keen to learn from him.”

Earlier,

Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday said that an enhanced air, road and rail connectivity between Pakistan and Uzbekistan was vital to strengthen the bilateral trade and commercial ties besides bringing the two peoples closer to each other.

The prime minister, in an interview with an Uzbek television channel Ozbekistan24 during his two-day visit to Tashkent to attend the 16th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), said Pakistan would find a lot of inspiration to further develop bilateral relations.

“This will come with more connectivity. The connectivity through direct air, rail, and roads will be the answer to bringing the people closer,” he remarked.

He said Pakistan considered Uzbekistan as one of the most important countries in the region as President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had taken multiple new initiatives in economic and connectivity terms. He told the interviewer that during his multiple interactions, he had observed a lot of energy in President Mirziyoyev who was very focused and striving to translate his “clear” vision into tangible projects.

PM Kakar said Uzbekistan and Pakistan had appointed their deputy prime minister and commerce minister respectively as focal persons to regularly meet and explore specifics for trade. He said both countries could focus on trading the mutually required goods and the working groups would also identify such areas as pharmaceuticals. Uzbekistan can be also used as a transit route for further export to other countries, he added.

“Both sides are exploring specifics. I am pretty sure that these specifics will bring in mutual benefits. The target of one billion dollar trade is short-term and it can go beyond that,” he remarked. The prime minister appreciated the Uzbek president’s eagerness to execute the rail link between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan as he prudently approached all the players in the region and beyond.

We are currently working on carrying out the feasibility study from the World Bank. It shows his (Uzbek president) diplomatic and strategic skills for convincing everyone that the project would benefit everyone, he added.

Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Friday congratulated Pakistani teacher Sister Zeph on winning the Global Teacher Prize 2023, calling it a “great moment of pride” for Pakistan. “A great moment of pride for Pakistan. Our very own sister Zeph has won the Global Teacher Prize 2023,” the prime minister wrote on social media platform X.

He said education was a subject really close to his heart as only education could uplift the people to achieve laurels for themselves and their country besides making them better citizens. “I once again congratulate Sister Zeph on this remarkable achievement,” he remarked.