CPEC to have two major dimensions

Islamabad, Sep 10 Pakistan and China, in a four hour meeting on Sunday driven by Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar and bad habit administrator of National Development and Reforms Commission (NDRC) of China Ning Jizhe, chose to include social area and local improvement plans to the current arrangement of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects.

The social sector scheme will include provision for clean drinking water, health, education and technical training.

The two nations also agreed to formally invite "third-nation" investors to be part of the $60 billion CPEC, reported the Dawn.

The meeting was also attended by the Planning Secretary Zafar Hassan, CPEC's project director Hassan Daud and officials of the NDRC and Chinese Embassy.

The Dawn cited the sources as saying that Chinese government wants the involvement of friendly countries to both Pakistan and China in the upcoming nine special economic zones (SEZs) to stay away from negative criticism from US and India "about the possibility of secretive deals that 'stay beyond public eye'."

"Realigning the goals of CPEC, Pakistan has introduced new targets of socioeconomic and regional development under this remarkable super venture," said the Planning Commission in an official explanation as cited by the Dawn.