Gwadar-Chabahar ports considered win-win for Pakistan, Iran

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A group of diplomats and experts on foreign relations from Pakistan and Iran have called for cooperation between Iran’s Chabahar and Pakistan’s Gwadar ports that would bring prosperity and enhance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

The diplomats and experts expressed the views during the webinar on the subject of Iran-Pakistan Economic Partnership in the Post-Corona era which was hosted by Golden Ring Economic Federation (GREF) in Lahore with the cooperation of the embassy of Iran. 

The speakers from Iran called for the use of the capacity of regional economic cooperation organizations, including ECO, and said that the Islamic Republic of Iran was ready to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 

The Pakistani experts stressed the importance of Iran’s joining CPEC project, saying that it would strengthen the long-term cooperation between Tehran and Beijing. 

At the webinar, Mashallah Shakeri, Advisor to the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran and former Ambassador to Pakistan, and Madoud Mohammad Zamani, senior expert from the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS), shared their thoughts on the bilateral cooperation between the two neighboring countries through video link. 

The other speakers at the webinar were Hasanin Reza Mirza, director of the Golden Ring Economic Research Institute, Defence Analyst Lieutenant General Sikander Afzal (retd), Arif Kamal, and Sanaullah former Pakistani ambassadors, and Qandil Abbas, Professor of international relations at the Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad. 

The participants explained the important and key policies of the two countries, especially in the geopolitical scenario in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, the developments of the subcontinent, and their impact on security and economic stability in the region. 

Emphasizing the Islamic Republic’s effective vision for the development of economic relations with Pakistan, China, and Russia, the Iranian experts pointed to obstacles noting a delay on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project from Pakistan, they said Iran was ready to export gas to the neighboring country. 

The Iranian diplomats considered the development of cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries as a key factor in the expansion of Iran-Pakistan relations and said that linking the ports of Chabahar and Gwadar will pave the way for regional cooperation between the two neighboring countries. 

They stressed the importance of advancing energy projects in the region, including the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project with China, to avoid the US pressure and sanctions. 

The Pakistani speakers called for the establishment of a joint working group with the participation of the two countries’ private sectors to find ways of development, the establishment of excellent joint centers for advanced research and development, and the acceleration of exchange programs between Iran and Pakistan. 

The participants in the webinar also suggested to develop and expand public relations between the two countries, especially in the fields of culture and tourism.

Coronavirus Update: Another spike in Sindh

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh’s tally of new COVID-19 infection cases increased by 16%, compared to the preceding day’s figure, on August 23 when authorities in the government declared 319 more cases, with nine more related fatalities, during the last 24 hours across the province.

Sindh tested on average 8,785 samples daily during the last week (August 17 to 23), out of which 300 were detected as new cases of the infection. About 3.5% of all 9,027 tests performed in the province, against the collective capacity of 14,940, on August 23 were new cases. 

As many as ten COVID-19 testing laboratories, including one at Sukkur, did not conduct any tests during the last 24 hours ending on August 23 afternoon. 

The official data further suggested that Sindh needed to witness stability in its numbers of deaths as well. It had on average registered six deaths daily from August 16 to 22, while nine deaths were reported alone on August 23. 

The authorities did not reveal the details related hospitalization, age, gender and area of living of the deceased persons but a report indicated that the only death that occurred on August 22 in Sindh was of a patient living in Karachi who died at home.

Keen observers believed that a majority of the nine patients who lost their lives on August 23 were not hospitalized.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his related statement on August 23, shared said that at present 4,002 COVID-19 patients were under treatment at homes (3,677), hospitals (318) and isolation centres (7). He informed that the number patients occupying ventilators in the various hospitals had decreased by just one.

According to his updates, Karachi had 160 (50%) of the total new infection on August 23, followed by Dadu (26), Hyderabad (19), Kambar Shadadkot (15), Sanghar (13), Thatta (10), Khairpur (9), Tando Allahyar (7), Jamshoro (7), Matiari (5), Shaheed Benazirabad (5), Mirpurkhas (4), Tando Mohammad Khan (4), Ghotki (4), Sujawal (4), Badin (3), Umerkot (3), Naushero Feroze (2), Jacobabad (1), Larkana (1), Shikarpur (1) and Sukkur (1). 

Sindh’s overall infection rate remained 13.46%, while the daily infection rate was 3.53% with a CFR of 1.84%.

Three marble cities being developed in Balochistan

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Three marble cities being developed in the province of Balochistan will be able to extract marble by using modern machinery. 

These three marbles cities are being developed in the cities of Khuzdar, Loralai and Dalbandin where big stones and marble reserves were available but they lacked the proper excavation and other facilities. 

The area earmarked for marble cities are Khuzdar (200 acres), Dalbandin (500 acres) and Loralai (506) acres. 

The PC-1 for these cities for provision of basic necessities including power supply (grid station), water distribution network, development of internal roads sewerage system and BHU has already been prepared. 

These three projects will create jobs, major economic opportunities besides uplift of socio-economic conditions of the area and the people in general.

Pakistan seeks Chinese assistance to preserve relics of Bhasha Dam

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan has sought Chinese assistance to preserve cultural relics near the under-construction Bhasha Dam.

The Federal Secretary, National Heritage & Culture Division, Nausheen Javaid Amjad, informed the Chinese Cultural Counselor, Zhang Heqing, during a recent meeting in Islamabad. 

She stated that, for the preservation of cultural relics in the construction site of Bhasha Dam, building an underground museum was a huge project, which was also very expensive. 

“The Chinese friends will be approached in this regard to provide the necessary assistance. Pakistan is rich in cultural heritage, which should be well preserved, excavated, restored, and exhibited. Both Pakistan and China should strengthen the exchange and cooperation in this area,” Nausheen Javaid observed. 

She added that the Chinese people were fond of the Gandhara Civilization and the 19 antiquities exhibited in China have attracted many visitors. 

She remarked that the creative cultural industry played an important role in the social economy with China having done it very well and was willing to cooperate with Pakistan to carry out workshops and seminars. 

Zhang Heqing reckoned that both sides appreciated mutual support in the fight against COVID-19, fully demonstrating yet again the brotherly friendship between Pakistan and China.