CPEC News and Discussions

[ACE OF HEARTS]

If china can bring Afghanistan to the table, then surely China can find ways to build the land corridor connecting Gwadar to Kashghar.

China needs to understand that the most populous province of Pakistan, and hence, the richest province of pakistan, has little to gain from land corridor and infrastructure development in balochistan, whoch is the poorest part of the country, with the highest poverty.

A decision that cost $2.56 billion - Pakistan Today

Pakistan Today is an English-language daily newspaper published from Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi.

www.pakistantoday.com.pk

China needs to prioritise, first and foremost, the land corridor in east pakistan and focus on these projects only, before starting new projects such as the Sahiwal Coal power plant, which was solely initiated and built to impress a particular political party local voters.

Pakistan's limited fiscal capacity could have been utilised more appropriately had China not supported such fancy power plant projects. This is part of Pakistan's internal politics and China shouldn't invest in such politically motivated projects.

If the servants of the people of pakistan, do their duty appropriately, then see how all of a sudden the Reko Diq Gold project is peacefully moving forward, in balochistan, after taking all security measures.

Reko Diq Project first phase to begin in year 2028, NA informed

ISLAMABAD: Government shared details with regard to Reko Diq gold and copper mining project in the National Assembly session on Thursday. Petroleum

arynews.tv

Look How quickly the project is moving forward, of course when their is benefit to the servants of the people.

Similarly, land corridor can easily be built in balochistan and China should do what is necessary to convince pakistan all the more. If the war torn Afghanistan can be convinced, then convincing Pakistan's government shouldn't be that difficult for China.

It is only through outside pressure that Status Quo is slowly being diluted in Pakistan. Otherwise, the ruling elite is lynching the poor to the fullest.

Pakistan’s poverty rate to stand at 42.4%: World Bank

ISLAMABAD: The poverty rate in Pakistan is estimated to stand at 42.4 percent in fiscal year 2025, with population...

www.brecorder.com

 

[mythbuster]

@mythbuster

Blum Pai,

Pakistan and other trapped countries need to pay them back in the same coin. Stop paying the debt/tariffs and expropriate the assets- on pretext of corruption in the projects.

Regards

It's a spat between brothers......non of your business.

 

[ety]

Yep , they could have but didn't....they are paying the price now...... that's what a good conman do to unsuspecting victims.

So, you think over 150 countries' govs that signed up for BRI projects are just dumb. Lol, Chinese money same as others are not just supposed to be free as Indians and some others think.

 

[ety]

@mythbuster

Blum Pai,

Pakistan and other trapped countries need to pay them back in the same coin. Stop paying the debt/tariffs and expropriate the assets- on pretext of corruption in the projects.

Regards

Lol, according to your Indian logic, your India is also a party to the crime on BRI debt traps since India has about 8.5% share of AIIB that funds many BRI projects in developing world countries. Just pathetic Indian.

 

[liuzhengdong]

Let's put this friendship thingy aside and look at the entire BRI and CPEC projects from a rational perspective........china has huge amount of Forex reserves, it has to park this money somewhere .... investment in dollars is neither safe nor it yields any profits ......so china came up with BRI and CPEC projects......these are gov to gov deals so investment and profits are guaranteed.....there is no truism from the Chinese side ...the recipient countries are heavily burdened by the debt and are struggling to pay back the money but paying they are.......these projects are white elephants...... it's a con game played by the Chinese on naive and trusting countries.

Around $11 billion worth of infrastructure projects being developed by the Pakistani government will be financed at an interest rate of 1.6 percent. Earlier, Pakistan successfully lobbied the Chinese government to reduce the interest rate from the initial 3%. The loans will be issued by the Export-Import Bank of China, the China Development Bank and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. In comparison, the World Bank’s previous loans for infrastructure projects in Pakistan have had interest rates ranging from 5% to 8.5%, while market lending rates are close to 12%.It seems that you prefer to take loans from the World Bank to build infrastructure projects in Pakistan. Prefer to pay higher interest to the West.

 

[mythbuster]

Around $11 billion worth of infrastructure projects being developed by the Pakistani government will be financed at an interest rate of 1.6 percent. Earlier, Pakistan successfully lobbied the Chinese government to reduce the interest rate from the initial 3%. The loans will be issued by the Export-Import Bank of China, the China Development Bank and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. In comparison, the World Bank’s previous loans for infrastructure projects in Pakistan have had interest rates ranging from 5% to 8.5%, while market lending rates are close to 12%.It seems that you prefer to take loans from the World Bank to build infrastructure projects in Pakistan. Prefer to pay higher interest to the West.

World bank is not a loan shark .... don't know where you got that figure from.

 

[frontline360news]

With ongoing insurgency and terrorist activities in Balochistan, Pakistan must take proactive measures to ensure the security and stability of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Establishing a dedicated security force specifically trained to protect CPEC infrastructure, Gwadar Port, and key economic zones is essential.

Strengthening Security Measures

• Specialized CPEC Protection Force: A highly trained military-police hybrid unit should be formed to safeguard critical infrastructure, trade routes, and foreign investments.
• Gwadar Security Perimeter: Constructing a secure boundary around Gwadar will help prevent unauthorized access and mitigate security threats.
• Rapid Reaction Force: Deploying special police units with quick-response capabilities will ensure immediate action against potential threats.

Gwadar as an Alternative to Karachi
To reduce dependency on Karachi and boost economic diversification, Gwadar should be developed into a modern commercial hub with:

• Industrial Zones: Establishing manufacturing, technology, and logistics hubs to attract investors.
• Entertainment & Tourism Districts: Creating beach resorts, shopping centers, and cultural attractions to promote tourism.
• Sports & Residential Areas: Developing housing communities, stadiums, and recreational facilities to enhance quality of life.

Encouraging Investment & Population Growth

• Business Incentives: Offering tax breaks, subsidies, and infrastructure support to attract local and foreign investors.
• Relocation Programs: Encouraging entrepreneurs, skilled workers, and professionals to settle in Gwadar, fostering economic growth.

Ensuring Sustainability & Infrastructure Development
To address clean water shortages and energy demands, Pakistan must integrate:

• Solar-Based Desalination Plants: Utilizing renewable energy to provide clean drinking water for local communities and businesses.
• Solar Parks for Electricity Generation: Large-scale solar power projects will reduce dependency on fossil fuels, ensuring stable energy supplies.

Pakistan must take bold steps to transform Gwadar into a thriving economic powerhouse, ensuring security, stability, and sustainable development.

 

[frontline360news]

When will Gwadar become a desirable place for relocation, and what incentives should the government offer to encourage people to move there instead of major cities like Karachi, Lahore, or Islamabad?

 

[Fatman17]

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[frontline360news]

China is planning to build undersea tunnel to connect Gwadar to Oman.

 

[Toxic]

China is planning to build undersea tunnel to connect Gwadar to Oman.


View attachment 134859

Why spread fake news?

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

The government has excluded two major China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) hydropower projects, worth $4 billion and totaling 1,824 MW, from the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) 2025–35 due to failure to achieve financial closure. The exclusion of the Kohala (1,124 MW) and Azad Pattan (700.7 MW) projects comes after the failure to achieve financial closure, Business Recorder reported.


Federal Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, announced the decision to the Senate Standing Committee on Power, which led to a heated discussion on the non-inclusion of the 207 MW Madyan and 88 MW GabralKalam projects.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) officials argued that these projects, which met the criteria set by the Council of Common Interests (CCI), were unfairly excluded from the latest IGCEP.


KPK’s Special Assistant on Energy, Brigadier Tariq Saddozai, claimed that the federal government had moved the goalposts, resulting in the exclusion of KPK’s hydropower projects despite previous commitments.

Minister Leghari and Power Secretary clarified that the World Bank-funded projects had not signed binding contracts and failed to meet the least-cost project criteria. They assured that IGCEP decisions will be finalized after public hearings, allowing affected parties to present their cases.

The committee also discussed the interim Net Hydel Profit (NHP) arrangement, with KPK’s outstanding dues remaining a contentious issue. KPK’s government claims its dues total Rs 76 billion, while WAPDA insists the amount is Rs 63 billion. A proposal to increase NHP monthly payments to Rs 5 billion was put forward.


In the broader context, the committee examined wheeling charges and other energy issues, with a focus on reducing losses and ensuring a competitive market.

The minister noted the termination and renegotiation of agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), which will save an estimated Rs3.4 trillion over the next four to five years.

He also acknowledged the ongoing challenge of electricity theft but highlighted the progress made in reducing distribution company losses by Rs191 billion this year.

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

KPK’s Special Assistant on Energy, Brigadier Tariq Saddozai, claimed that the federal government had moved the goalposts, resulting in the exclusion of KPK’s hydropower projects despite previous commitments.

Looks like days of hydro power projects have ended. Especially run of river ones with no storage capacity. Because KP demand of obnoxious royalty fee under Kazi formula these projects no longer make financial sense.

No point crying now.

 

[RealNapster]

Looks like days of hydro power projects have ended. Especially run of river ones with no storage capacity. Because KP demand of obnoxious royalty fee under Kazi formula these projects no longer make financial sense.

No point crying now.

IPPs makes more sense. Go for them.

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

IPPs makes more sense. Go for them.

These hydro projects are also IPPs.

Why build hydro dam with unit price of Rs30-40? You displace people and at the end get more expensive electricity then Thar coal. No longer make sense. KP can build them with their own resources and buy electricity from them.