The third BRF (Belt and Road Forum) to be held in Beijing from October 17 to 18, 2023, is expected to witness the signature of over two dozen agreements between Pakistan and China. This forum is expected to be attended by the caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, Anwaar ul Haq Kakar.
The National Development and Reform Commission of China (NDRC) has proposed signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with relevant authorities in Pakistan during the caretaker Prime Minister’s visit. These MoUs will cover various areas, including Urban Sustainable Development, Mineral Development and Industrial Cooperation, Green and Low-carbon Development, and more.
Pakistan’s Mission in Beijing has shared a list of 19 MoUs expected to be signed or announced during the caretaker Prime Minister’s visit. This includes updates on projects like Main Railway Line-1, Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), and the realignment of the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
For Main Railway Line-1, Pakistan has revised the project’s scope, and an addendum to the Framework Agreement may be signed at the BRF.
Regarding Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), the revised feasibility study has been shared with the Chinese side, and Pakistan aims to sign the Framework Agreement at the forum.
The realignment of KKH (Thakot-Raikot) has been discussed at the Joint Working Group on Transport Infrastructure (JWG-TI). The construction of dams alongside KKH has led to some portions being submerged, necessitating an announcement of this project at the BRF.
The Ministry of Communications has shared MoUs related to various road projects, including the feasibility study of D I Khan-Zhob Road Project, the feasibility study of Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra road, the feasibility study of Babusar tunnel, and the feasibility study of Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-9). Pakistan is eager to sign these MoUs at the BRF.
Additionally, the Power Division is interested in signing an MoU on Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and identifying potential sites for a pump-storage hydropower project.
China has proposed a draft MoU on the development of renewable energy projects in Pakistan, which is under review by Pakistan. There’s also significant progress on the 1320-MW Thar Block-1 project and the 300-MW coal project in Gwadar, with financial closures and formalities nearing completion.
Both sides are enthusiastic about announcing these projects at the upcoming BRF.
