Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Comsats University, Islamabad along with a high-profile Chinese delegation organised a seminar on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – The Way Forward – Introduction on Pakistan Agricultural Exports to find ways to uplift, source, process and export agricultural produce from Pakistan to China and other countries.

The seminar was focused on CPEC, which is a matter of interest for both the countries, and evolution of China from a similar economic condition where Pakistan stands today.

All-China Youth Federation Press & Publication Deputy Secretary General Wu Yongqiang was the principal speaker at the event. Along with him, the visiting Chinese delegation included Yangming Technology Investment Company Chairman Sun Xiangyang, Taidi Network Technology Co Ltd Chairman Yao Zongchang and legal assistant and translator Wu Xueqin.

Comsats University Management Sciences Dean Dr Khalid Riaz welcomed the participants. He focused on the need for trade on both sides especially export of agricultural commodities from Pakistan to China. He spoke on CPEC as well as the opportunities and threats associated with it. He emphasised on exporting agricultural commodities of Pakistan to China.

Pehle Aap Pvt Ltd Chief Executive Officer and United Bank Limited Director Amar Zafar Khan conceived the idea of the uplift of Pakistan’s agricultural fisheries and livestock output through using major specialist Chinese companies, which are equipped with an end to end supply chain and marketing infrastructure, to source and export to China and other countries. Agriculture has been used as a starting point as this has the highest potential of growth, considering it employs 60 percent of our population and is key to bringing prosperity to rural Pakistan.

This initiative comes at a critical stage when Pakistan is burdened with a balance of payment deficit and an overhang of foreign currency debt, marking an urgent need to expand our exports. Amar Zafar Khan explained that the visiting delegation is here to assess the inclination and capacity of Pakistan to launch itself into the international markets as a significant player.

During his address, Wu Yongqiang said, “CPEC is a transformative project which holds enormous potential for transforming the lives of both Pakistanis and Chinese. It is a long-term and systematic initiative to promote economic cooperation through collaboration in various areas. By channelling this assistance into food exports and over time exports of other products, we look forward to providing new opportunities to the citizens of the two countries and bring new impetus and vision to the China-Pakistan friendship.”

Yongqiang drew parallels between Pakistan today and China’s impoverishment in the 1980s. He described how China worked its way out of poverty using several strategies, mainly exports to becoming the world leader in exports by a significant margin.

The CPEC project launched by the leaders of China and Pakistan is in fact a pilot area for comprehensive economic, trade, agriculture and e-commerce. The support of the government as well as collaboration of multiple industries will be necessary to utilise this opportunity and works towards the overall economic development of the Pakistani nation.

Khan, addressing the audience said, “The Chinese delegation’s visit and this gathering here today emanates from a vision that grows from the desire to find a sustainable solution to Pakistan’s most critical economic issues. This can only happen through a long-term vision centred around maximising its export potential – starting with its longest employing industry – agriculture. A platform with high export growth potential, our future collaborations with China in this area, will bring tremendous benefits to both countries.”

The seminar was attended by leading members of think tanks and representatives of the agricultural industry.

Published in Daily Times, August 31^st 2018.