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Gwadar Port
Pakistan's largest international airport, funded and built by all-weather ally China, in the restive Balochistan province was officially opened on Monday. The Gwadar International Airport and the Gwadar deep sea port built in the province under the USD 42 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project (CPEC) are seen as important for boosting trade and regional connectivity by both countries. The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) PK 503 aircraft was the first commercial flight to arrive at the new airport after its inauguration carrying commercial passengers and high-ranking officials. The aircraft which took off from Karachi after a 45-minute delay landed after an hour and 10 minutes flight. China and Pakistan see the port city of Gwadar and its deep sea port and international airport as a hub of connectivity for the corridor, and an indispensable interchange for a 21st century Silk Route. The airport, equipped with modern facilities, is expected to play a critical role in
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced sending as many as 1,000 students of the country to China for advanced training in the agriculture sector as it strives to increase output, according to a media report on Sunday. The premier, who concluded his five-day official visit to China, made the announcement during a visit to Yangling Agricultural Demonstration Base in Xi'an city on Saturday, Radio Pakistan reported. The 72-year-old also invited China's North West Agriculture and Forestry University to open a campus in Pakistan. He directed the Pakistan ambassador to China and relevant authorities to finalise the matters with the Chinese authorities in this regard, Geo News reported. The prime minister toured various parts of the facility and was shown Pakistani products at the Pakistan Pavilion, the report said. Sharif also visited the modern plant production factory where he oversaw a demonstration of the vertical method of agriculture, it said. Pakistan is striving to
A wary China on Tuesday sought to downplay reports of mass protests against the CPEC projects at Pakistan's port city Gwadar, saying they are not targeted against the multi-billion dollar initiative, amid growing concerns here about the security of hundreds of Chinese personnel working in the neighbouring country. According to a report in the Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper on Monday, hundreds of children joined the ongoing protests in Gwadar which entered its 18th day on Sunday. The protesters are threatening to block the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects if their demands, which included banning illegal trawling in Gwadar, are not met within a week. These reports are untrue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here. The organisers have said in public that the protests are not targeting the Chinese side or the CPEC," Mao said. The Dawn newspaper further reported that the protesting children reached Gwadar city from Turbat, Pasni and ot