Chinese President forthcoming visit to give NOD to KCR, Dhabeji projects.

KARACHI -- A 105-kilometer railway line will be constructed from Chhor to Islamkot to transport coal from Thar Coal filed to Port Qasim and up-country, apart from launching coal to gas to urea and liquid projects and installation of 1320 MW power in Thar Coal Block-VI under CPEC-related projects

This was disclosed in a meeting held between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Chairman CPEC Authority (CPECA) General (Retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa here on Friday at CM House. The meeting was attended by Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh, Chairman P and D Mohammad Waseem, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Energy Musadiq Khan. Gen Bajwa was assisted by Energy Specialist of CPEC Authority Yasir Arfat and Infrastructure Specialist Muzamil Zia.

Chairman CPECA Gen (Retd) Asim Bajwa told the chief minister that the Chinese president was expected to visit Pakistan between May and June this year, therefore all the formalities and documentation of the CPEC-related projects, including then one should be completed.

The chief minister said that at CPEC related forums three projects of Sindh, Karachi Circular Railway, China Special Economic Zone Dhabeji and Keti Bandar have already been approved. He added that only their financial mechanism was yet to be finalized.

Talking about KCR, Mr Shah said that framework Agreement between Pakistan and Chinese Planning Commission known as NDRC and Pakistan was in the process to sing. Concessional Agreement between China and Pakistan is being made, the chief minister said and added the Pakistan Railways and Sindh government have also agreed on handing over the Right of Way at common corridor between ML-1 and KCR.

Gen Bajwa said that KCR was on top priority of the CPECA. He added that he would pursue the already approved project and the new project with Chinese authority so that work on them could be started at the earlies.

He said that KPT has become on eof the most loaded port, therefore a plan has been worked out to construct an expressway right on the sea uto Malir Expressway the Sindh government is going start. At this the Chief minister said that Keti Bandar is also an important strategic and alternate port.

Chairman CPEC authority said that in order to transport Thar coal to Port Qasim and upcountry a 105 km railway track from Chhor to Islamkot has been prepared. With the construction of this railway line an access of Islamkot, the coal field area, would serve as means of coal transportation. From Karachi upto Chhor...