Govt seeks Chinese, AIIB support for road projects
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan held a detailed meeting with Chairman of the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), Du Fei, during his visit to Tianjin. The focus was on expanding Chinese investment in Pakistan's road infrastructure.
The two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in road development, especially projects like the Mansehra-Naran-Jhal Kand Motorway. Investment opportunities, technical assistance, and future collaboration were also reviewed, said a statement issued on Friday.
Fei explained that CRBC, a major Chinese state-owned firm, operates in over 70 countries across Asia, Europe, America, and Africa. He expressed interest in expanding operations in Pakistan and called it an honour to contribute to its infrastructure.
Between 1995 and 2023, CRBC was involved in key projects such as the Sukkur Bypass, Karakoram Highway, and Karachi Coastal Highway. Since last year, it has shown interest in new ventures like the ML-1 Railway Project, Pakistan Refinery upgrades, Lahore Airport expansion, and the Raikot-Thakot Highway.
Aleem Khan assured CRBC of full support and welcomed its role in strengthening Pakistan's road infrastructure.
In another meeting, the minister met senior officials of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), including Chief Investment Officer Konstantin Limitovskiy and Director General Public Sector Xiaohong Yang. He presented the M-6 Sukkur-Hyderabad and M-9 Karachi-Hyderabad motorways as investment options.
He said these projects link trade hubs to Karachi Port and are vital for economic growth. Developing road infrastructure is a top government priority, he added.
The minister said AIIB's partnership could speed up Pakistan's development. He noted that Pak-China friendship supports regional connectivity and prosperity.
He also mentioned that several Chinese financial institutions are already funding infrastructure projects in Pakistan. Aleem Khan reaffirmed the government's aim to attract more foreign investment in roads and connectivity. He said infrastructure investment leads to job creation and economic growth.
Senior AIIB officials expressed interest in supporting Pakistan's development initiatives and voiced hope for positive outcomes from the discussions.
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