Asim Bajwa rejects impression regarding CPEC slowdown

ISLAMABAD: Chairman China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Lt. General (retired) Asim Saleem Bajwa has rejected the impression that the pace of CPEC related projects has slowed down.

On a social media website Twitter, Bajwa dismissed the impression, adding that the pace of CPEC scope has actually enhanced.

He further said, “Some detractors giving a false impression of CPEC being slowed. He said not the only pace of work on projects picked up recently, a great deal of groundwork done to launch phase-2,” Bajwa added.

He said, “Not only pace of work on projects picked up recently, a great deal of groundwork done to launch phase-2.”

Bajwa further said that projects including the $7.2bn ML-1 project, two hydel power projects being built on the investments of $3.5bn, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and agriculture projects would soon be completed. “Scope actually enhanced,” he opined.

Some detractors giving false impression of #CPEC being slowed.Not only pace of work on projects picked up recently,a great deal ground work done to launch phase-2.Coming soon;$ 7.2 Bn ML-1, two Hydel Power projects investing $3.5 Bns, SEZs,&agriculture.Scope actually enhanced

— Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimSBajwa) June 17, 2020

On June 6, Asim Saleem Bajwa had said that the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved the railway mainline (ML-1) project worth of US$7.2 billion.

On a social media website Tweeter, Saleem Bajwa said, “The CDWP has approved and recommended ML-1 project to Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) with cost US$ 7.2 b. Billion”, he added. 

Asim Bajwa who is also Chairman of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had said the project scope included dualization and up-gradation of 1872 km Railway track from Peshawar to Karachi.

While under the project Walton Academy would also be up-grade besides building a dry port at Havelian. He had termed the approval as a big milestone for the second phase of CPEC.

CDWP approved&recommended ML-1 project to ECNEC with cost US$ 7.2 Billion.Project scope includes dualisation &Up gradation of 1872 km Railway track from Peshawar to Karachi, Up grade Walton Academy&build Dry Port at Havelian.Big milestone for 2nd phase.#cpec #CPECMakingProgress

— Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimSBajwa) June 6, 2020

Mainline-1 (ML-1) is an important project of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It entails a complete infrastructure overhaul of the 1,680 km railway tracks from Karachi to Peshawar.

After the upgrade, the speed of trains is expected to increase from 65 to 105 km/h to 120-160 km/h, which will cut the travel time between the two cities to half.

In 2018, the Ministry of Railways and the National Railway Administration of China (NRAC) had undertaken initial work for working on Pakistan Railways’ Mainline 1 (ML-1).