ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national security adviser Dr. Moeed Yusuf invited neighboring states to invest in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Tuesday, reported the Associated Press of Pakistan, saying the project was a “game changer” and had the potential of changing the region’s economic geography.
The multibillion-dollar corridor project, which was launched in 2013 and provides a framework for greater regional integration, has mainly focused on infrastructure development and power generation ventures across Pakistan.
It is part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that aims to link Asia, Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks to ensure sustained economic progress by increasing commerce and trade.
Pakistan has already stepped up its engagements with the Central Asian republics, hoping to tap the region’s $90 billion export market by offering its landlocked economies access to sealanes via the shortest possible route through its southwestern Gwadar port city.
Discussing the significance of the corridor plan, Yusuf said “CPEC was not merely a name for a road or railway system but a far-reaching mega project which would usher in an ‘economic revolution,’” the APP said.
“The security adviser said that special economic zones would promote industrialization in the country and help to attract more investment,” the report added.
He also maintained the China-Pakistan bilateral ties were gaining strength with each passing year.
Last month, the chairman of Pakistan’s CPEC authority Khalid Mansoor said Chinese companies were not satisfied with the performance of the country’s state institutions and their pace of work on the corridor project.
However, Pakistan’s planning minister Asad Umar denied that CPEC had slowed down and maintained the current administration had completed several projects under the China-Pakistan bilateral economic framework.
More recently, Prime Minister Imran Khan said his government would expedite work on CPEC while acknowledging it had either been halted or slowed down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Pakistani national security advisor invites neighbors to invest in CPEC
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Pakistani national security advisor invites neighbors to invest in CPEC
- Dr. Moeed Yusuf says special economic zones under the corridor project will promote industrialization in the country
- Pakistan is already negotiating trade deals with Central Asian states in a bid to tap the region’s $90 billion export market
Pakistan, Oman navies discuss maritime security, ink agreement to share shipping data
- Visiting Oman royal navy commander calls on Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf in Islamabad
- White shipping agreement refers to exchange of prior information on movement of commercial ships
ISLAMABAD: The naval commanders of Pakistan and Oman discussed regional maritime security on Wednesday and signed an agreement to share shipping information with each other, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
The press release followed a meeting between Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the visiting Oman Royal Navy Commander Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nasser Bin Mohsin Al Rahbi at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.
Both navies maintain close professional relations, reflected in expert-level staff talks, joint training, bilateral exercises, and participation in multilateral exercises between the Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security and bilateral naval cooperation were discussed,” the Pakistan Navy said.
The MoU was signed by both sides at a ceremony at the Naval Headquarters, the navy’s media wing confirmed.
“The MoU is aimed at establishing of guidelines and procedures for information sharing in order to enhance mutual awareness of white shipping,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
White shipping agreement refers to the exchange of prior information on the movement and identity of commercial non-military merchant vessels.
Information regarding the identity of vessels helps countries tackle potential threats from sea routes. This particularly helps in the development of a proper regional maritime domain awareness
The statement said Al Rahbi lauded Pakistan Navy’s professionalism and acknowledged its ongoing contributions to maritime security and regional stability.
Pakistan and Oman share geographical proximity and common maritime boundaries. Bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries span a wide range of areas, including economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts and strong defense ties.
In December, a Royal Navy flotilla from Oman visited Karachi to take part in the annual bilateral Thamar Al Tayyib (TAT) 2025 exercise.
Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have been conducting the TAT series of exercises regularly since 1980.
