ISLAMABAD: A former Pakistani general Asim Saleem Bajwa announced on Tuesday he was stepping down from his position as the head of his country’s China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority, as the government circulated a notification of his replacement by Khalid Mansoor with extensive corporate experience.
According to a statement issued by the planning ministry, Prime Minister Imran Khan appointed Mansoor as his special assistant on CPEC affairs.
“Mansoor brings with him over four decades of experience [of] working with multiple organizations in energy, petrochemicals, and fertilizer industries,” said the notification. “He is expected to lead the second phase of CPEC which will focus on industrial cooperation.”
Bajwa expressed his gratitude in a Twitter post for being given the “opportunity to raise & steer the important institution of CPEC Authority,” saying he was funny supported by the prime minister and his administration.
He described the corridor project as his country’s “lifeline” while adding it would transform Pakistan “into a progressive and fully developed country.”
The former CPEC Authority chairman also expressed best wishes for Mansoor, saying he was “fully equipped” to deal with the task at hand.
I bow my head before Allah Almighty for giving me an opportunity to raise & steer the important institution of CPEC Authority as one window for all CPEC projects, charting the future direction. Wouldn’t have been possible without full confidence& support of the PM & his Govt-1/2
— Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimSBajwa) August 3, 2021
The ministry statement, meanwhile, announced that Mansoor had extensive experience of working with Chinese companies and had “a deep understanding of joint ventures, project development and execution with Chinese partners.”
Pakistan’s planning minister Asad Umar also thanked Bajwa for his services, saying that “his dedication and commitment was a source of great strength and support.”
He also welcomed his replacement while noting that Mansoor had a wealth of experience of working Chinese companies which made him “an ideal person to lead the next phase of CPEC.”
I welcome khalid mansoor to the team as SAPM for CPEC affairs. His vast corporate experience , with extensive work with Chinese companies and his direct involvement in leading some of the biggest CPEC projects makes him an ideal person to lead the next phase of CPEC
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) August 3, 2021
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a collection of several infrastructure projects carried out by Beijing and Islamabad since 2013.
It was originally estimated at $47 billion, though it reached about $62 billion in 2020.
Last month, a blast on a bus killed nine Chinese nationals in Pakistan who were involved in the construction of Dasu hydroelectric project in Upper Kohistan region.
The Pakistani authorities promptly attributed the incident to a “mechanical failure,” though the Chinese authorities insisted on a thorough investigation.
The incident resulted in a rare public disagreement between the two countries, creating a perception of some friction between them.
