ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Monday that the signing of new development projects with China in the fields of energy, technology and education reflected the upward trajectory of the economic ties between the two countries.
China’s Vice President Wang Qishan, who is in Pakistan on a three-day official visit, jointly inaugurated four development projects with Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday and witnessed the signing of five memoranda of understanding to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in different fields including agriculture and disaster relief.
“Signing of the agreements between Pakistan and China during the ongoing visit of the Chinese vice president is proof of the flourishing economic ties between the two countries,” Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Monday.
The new development projects include 660 KV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project from Matiari to Lahore and setting up the Rashakai Special Economic Zone Project in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Other than that, Huawei will build a technical support center in the country and a Confucius Institute will also be established at the University of Punjab in Lahore.
Reiterating his government’s unwavering commitment to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Prime Minister Khan on Sunday stressed the importance of “further deepening bilateral economic and commercial interaction, industrial collaboration, and China’s investment in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones.”
Reciprocating his sentiments, the Chinese vice president echoed his country’s “strong support for the agenda of socio-economic uplift and people-centered development.”
Speaking at a meeting of the “Friends of Silk Road” on Sunday, he said: “No matter how the international landscape changes, China and Pakistan will always stay iron brothers that trust and support each other.”
The visiting dignitary is scheduled to attend two ceremonies in Lahore as chief guest on Monday.
Recognizing his services in promoting the China-Pakistan relationship, President Arif Alvi conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan, the highest civil award of the country, on Vice President Wang Qishan at a special investiture ceremony held at the President House later in the day. It was attended by the Senate chairman, services chiefs, members of the federal cabinet, parliamentarians and diplomats.
The Chinese vice president was also accorded a red carpet welcome at the Nur Khan Airbase at the beginning of his visit to the country.
“The visit is in continuation of high-level exchanges between the two countries, which have acquired an increased momentum,” the foreign office said in a statement.
Pakistan says economic relations with China are flourishing
Pakistan says economic relations with China are flourishing
- China and Pakistan will always remain iron brothers, says vice president Wang Qishan
- President Arif Alvi confers the highest civilian award on the visiting Chinese dignitary
Color and caution as banned kite-flying festival returns to Pakistan
- This year authorities allowed the festival for three days but with ramped up safety measures in a move welcomed by many
- Families and groups of friends gathered on rooftops and in parks and streets to celebrate the three-day kite-flying festival
ISLAMABAD: Brightly colored kites soared through the skies over Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore this weekend, marking the return of a festival after a 19-year ban that had been imposed over safety concerns.
Families and groups of friends gathered on rooftops and in parks and streets for the three-day kite-flying festival in Punjab province, known as ‘Basant’, the Urdu language word for the spring season it traditionally marks the arrival of.
“Everyone is excited — all of Punjab, all of Pakistan. It has become hard to find kites and strings because they sold out,” said Shahzaib, a kite flyer, with drums playing in the background.
Punjab authorities banned the festival in 2007 due to a series of fatal accidents caused by glass powdered-coated kite strings and celebratory aerial gunfire.
The exceptionally sharp strings, known as manjha, had badly injured and killed pedestrians and motorcyclists, prompting the crackdown.
But this year authorities relented, allowing the festival for three days but with ramped up safety measures in place in a move welcomed by many Lahoris and thousands who traveled to the city from across the country to take part.
“People had lost businesses when the ban happened. After the ban lifted I sold 20,000 to 25,000 kites,” said Tariq, a kite maker.
Rights groups and cultural activists have long criticized the ban, arguing that poor enforcement rather than the festival itself was to blame for past tragedies.
Some official events planned to take place during the festival were canceled after a suicide blast at a mosque in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Friday killed 31 people.
Police were deployed across the city to enforce safety rules, while hospitals were placed on alert to deal with potential injuries.
Authorities also monitored kite sales — including using QR codes to track kites — and confiscated banned materials, including glass-coated strings.
Motorcycle riders placed protective rods on their bikes to intercept kite strings before they could cut riders.
Kite fighting was the main attraction of the festival with participants manoeuvring their kites to sever the strings of their opponents’, often drawing cheers from neighboring rooftops.
Workshops that once lay dormant were operating again to meet demand.
“Buying and flying kites should not be a one-time thing,” said Chand Ustad, 51, string maker.
“Keep buying them, keep flying them, this helps our business as well.”
