On Thursday, Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with China to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, projects, and institutions. Both countries also agreed to finalize financing arrangements for the first phase of the Karachi-Peshawar Railway Line (Main Line 1 or ML-1), with the Karachi-Hyderabad section being prioritized for immediate focus.
The meeting, held at the Planning Commission, followed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to the Chinese Embassy, where he expressed condolences for the tragic killing of Chinese workers in Karachi.
The session, led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, included key officials such as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and the secretaries of foreign affairs, communications, railways, and interior ministries. The Chinese delegation was led by Ambassador Jiang Zaidong.
Iqbal condemned the attack on Chinese nationals and assured that Pakistan would take all necessary actions to bring the perpetrators to justice, emphasizing that such acts aimed at damaging Pakistan-China relations would not be tolerated. He reiterated that the safety of Chinese citizens remained a top priority, and Pakistan would continue to collaborate with China to ensure their security.
Iqbal also acknowledged the recent visit of the Chinese prime minister to Pakistan, highlighting the strong bilateral ties between the two nations. He stressed the need for effective mechanisms to implement bilateral projects and mentioned that relevant ministries were working on an action plan to ensure the successful execution of the second phase of CPEC and implement recommendations from Chinese experts.
Both sides discussed advancing key projects, including the Karachi-Hyderabad section of ML-1 and the Karakoram Highway’s Thakot-Raikot section, and agreed to accelerate the timely execution of these projects. The Chinese ambassador assured he would coordinate efforts to arrange financing for the Karachi-Hyderabad section.
Regarding Gwadar Port and the Free Zone, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to its continued development. Ambassador Jiang thanked Pakistan for its engagement and highlighted that during PM Shehbaz’s visit to China in June, both countries agreed to enhance cooperation in politics, international affairs, pragmatic projects, and security. He also pledged China’s readiness to collaborate on agriculture, mining, minerals, and industrial projects, with a focus on strengthening the security of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan.
In a separate development, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Planning and Development called for swift action on the ML-1 projects. The committee, chaired by MNA Farhan Chishti, discussed delays in funding and issues surrounding the Public Works Department’s evolving role under the new structure. Members emphasized the need for clarity in the ministry’s responsibilities, especially in overseeing federal development projects and securing budgets for high-priority initiatives.
