CPEC: Report on non-inclusion of Balochistan in ML-1 presented in Senate

Islamabad: A report regarding non-inclusion of Balochistan province in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’s Main Line 1 (ML-1) project was presented in Pakistani Senate.

Senator Dost Muhammad Khan on behalf of Chairman, Standing Committee on Railways Muhammad Qasim presented the report.

Under the project, the Pakistan Railways aims to rehabilitate 15 kilometre to 25 km critical stretches on the 470km Khanpur-Kotri portion by replacing them with new tracks, while maintenance of the less-dangerous portions is also part of the project.

The PR has also requested the Chinese authorities to at least allow it to initiate the bidding process for the US $6.8 billion ML-1 project and that any issues related to its cost revision could be solved later.

Later on Wednesday, Chairman Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Faisal Javed presented special report of the Committee in the senate on the seminar for young media professionals from Pakistan organized by the combined efforts of Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting and Chinese Embassy in Pakistan.

The House also adopted motion regarding the recommendations on the Money Bill further to amend certain tax laws (The Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Bill, 2021), as reported by the Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs.