China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Long Term Plan launched in Pakistan

A long-term plan for the development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was launched in Pakistan's capital Islamabad on Dec. 18.

The plan connects China's Belt and Road Initiative and Pakistan's development plan "Vision 2025" and it's aimed at guiding construction of the CPEC and promoting coordinated development of the two countries.

A container is loaded to a ship at the opening ceremony of a pilot trade project at a ceremony in Gwadar port, southwestern Pakistan, on Nov. 13, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

The plan defines several key nodes along the CPEC, which starts from Kashgar of Xinjiang, China to the coastal cities Karachi and Gwadar in south Pakistan, and specifies principles, key cooperation areas, investment and financing mechanisms and supporting measures the corridor construction.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of CPEC Long Term Plan, Interior Minister of Pakistan Ahsan Iqbal said in 2013 Pakistan was facing many challenges including power crisis, crash of stock exchange, economic challenges and poor law and order situation. It was China that showed a positive gesture and supported the falling economy by bringing in about 46 billion U.S. dollars investment in the form of CPEC, he said.

"That gesture Pakistani nation will never forget that, while others were walking away, the government and people of China came to Pakistan's rescue and announced to the world that we (China) are investing billions of dollars in Pakistan because it is not a risky country, but a safe country," Iqbal said.

Iqbal said that different road networks are being constructed to connect underprivileged areas across the country with the main route of CPEC to boost and generate economic activities.

The plan would expand the scope of cooperation between the countries in various new areas, including cooperation in social sectors along with economic fields, the minister said.

"This plan is effective until 2030. The short-term projects in it will be completed by up to 2020, medium term project up to 2025 and long term projects up to 2030," he added.