Daily Times

Chinese enterprises in Pakistan have made important contributions to local sustainable development while actively improving people’s livelihood, an eight- member delegation organized by the Chinese Consulate General in Lahore said during a visit to the headquarters of PKM contractor China Construction Third Engineering Bureau (CCTEB), Gwadar Pro reported on Sunday. Xiao Hua, General Manager, CCTEB welcomed the Pakistani media and think tank delegation and briefed the delegation on the development of the company in Pakistan and the story of construction of PKM project. He highlighted that as one of the series activities of the Open Day of “Cultural Integration and Communication”, the visit and discussion of the Pakistani delegation further deepened Pakistan’s understanding of the largest infrastructure project under the framework of China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

As the head of the delegation, Lt Col (Retd) Sayed Ahmad Nadeem Qadri, Director General Operations Nawa-i- Waqt Group, pointed out that the visit presented to the Pakistani media a comprehensive, three-dimensional and real Chinese enterprises. “The efforts made by CCTEB in Pakistan are conducive to the sustainable development of Pakistan. Both Chinese and Pakistani enterprises are building a green corridor for ecological protection,” he said.Undertaken in EPC model, the PKM Project is the largest transportation infrastructure project of CPEC and also a key project along the Belt and Road.

The project starts from Sukkur, Sindh, in the south, and reaches Multan, the economic center of Punjab in the north, with a total length of 392 km and a designed speed of 120 km per hour. The project includes 100 bridges, 468 underpasses, 991 culverts, 11 interchanges, 6 pairs of service areas, 5 pairs of rest areas, 22 toll stations. The project now has been completed and open to traffic. It is the highest standard motorway in Pakistan with the highest design level and the most advanced intelligent system. It adopts Chinese SBS modified asphalt technology and is the only one with full greening along the route and strong flood resistance.

The project protected the ecology by planting trees along the route, which are now growing in full vigor, forming a 392-km green gallery. The delegation members also spoke highly of many large- scale infrastructure projects being built by Chinese enterprises in Pakistan. They stressed that the architects of the two countries have devoted a lot of manpower, material resources and efforts to the projects. They expect more Chinese companies to work with local enterprises to promote local industries, help local villagers be employed, improve their skills and create a good work environment for them. The two sides can make a great contribution to Pakistan’s economic and social development by taking concrete actions to address livelihood issues such as transportation, water, healthcare and education.