ISLLAMABAD: Pakistan, China Relations Steering Committee held its first sitting and finalised its Terms of Reference (ToRs) and its scope of functioning here on Friday.
The meeting was chaired here with Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Asad Umar to discuss the committee’s scope and rationale.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had recently constituted Pak-China Relations Steering Committee to give further impetus to the implementation of projects and initiatives involving Pak-China collaboration.
The committee has high-ranking officials from civilian and military bureaucracy and the high-level forum reflects the special status of the Pak-China relationships in the PM’s vision. Formation of the committee is aimed at resolving the issues and removing bureaucratic hurdles in implementation of the decisions of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) to help take further the CPEC projects.
The 15-member Committee includes Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Secretary Planning, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Secretary Railways, Secretary Power, Secretary Finance, National Security Adviser, Chairman China, Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority, and Chairman Gwadar Development Authority.
Other members of the committee are the Director-General of the Joint Staff Headquarters, Chief of General Staff/Director General Military Operations, Chief of Staff Naval Headquarters, and Director General Intelligence/Analysis of the ISI.
The meeting discussed its modus operandi and TORs in detail, and it also solicited suggestions on how to make the committee more effective and efficient in order to further deepen Pakistan-China relations.
