BEIJING: Cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) “has transformed the economic landscape of Pakistan”, ambassador of Islamabad in Beijing Moin ul-Haque said.
In an interview with Xinhua, Haque spoke very well of the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of BRI, saying it is “transformative” for his whole country.
In addition to the port of Gwadar, which according to him has become the crown jewel of the CPEC, Haque also praised the eco-friendly metro train of the orange line in Lahore, the first of and kind in Pakistan, which has officially opened for traffic in October 2020.
“See the subway train, it’s a world-class, high quality public transport system. In Lahore, people have this very efficient, very modern and convenient transportation system”He said.
According to Haque, BRI projects have benefited Pakistanis people through work creation the improvement of livelihoods, the elimination of poverty and improvement remote the areas.
Infrastructure development and energy upgrades have “helped change the economy, social and industrial landscape of Pakistan, “said Haque.
Until now, more More than 70,000 jobs have been created thanks to BRI cooperation, Haque stressed, adding that according to his government. half one million direct and indirect jobs will be created in the next five to seven years.
He further elaborated that “all these philosophies and dimensions of BRI directly contribute to the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). “
The 17 SDGs have been adopted by all UN member states in 2015, as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which does not include poverty, zero hunger, good health and wellness and others.
Witness the signature of a series of BRI cooperation agreements between Pakistan and China, the ambassador also shared with Xinhua his personal experiences.
He remembered the difficult nights in where the temperature reached 40 degrees centigrade, the light left out and the fan stopped working due to power deficiency, e one I could not sleep.
Thanks to the BRI projects, you frequent power interruptions in high season is now a thing of the past he said.
The ambassador told Xinhua that his country is looking for more cooperation with China on modernization of the sector e information technology (IT) since Pakistan started working on his special technology areas.
In September last, Pakistan and China established joint work group on information technology at the 10th meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee of the CPEC.
Since taking up the post of ambassador in Beijing in 2020, Haque visited Z-park on many occasions, also known as China’s Silicon Valley, a must see how Pakistan can learn from the Chinese side in IT technology artificial intelligence, 5G, robotics and cloud computing.
In February, Pakistan’s Special Technology Zones Authority and Zhongguancun China’s Belt and Road Industrial Promotion Association signed a letter of intention to promote high quality science and the technological exchanges between the two countries.
“His just the beginning, ”Haque said, expecting closer cooperation between research institutions and universities. “We want to be seen more cooperation in this area. “
Noting that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented global economic impact, the diplomat said for collective effort, international solidarity and cooperation to deal with which he said is the greatest challenge faced Of humanity in a long time.
“The BRI has played, it is playing and stands for play a very important role for stabilize economies of the world and bring countries together for face challenges like Covid-19, “Haque said.
