ISLAMABAD: Secretary of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, Hassan Nawaz Tarar on Monday said that China has asked the Government of Pakistan to submit details of all the development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Support Project.

This was told by the secretary in a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reform which met under the Chairmanship of MNA Abdul Majeed Khan Khanan Khail.

The session was attended by its members and officials of the ministry.

The secretary told committee members that the National Development and Reforms Commission of China (NDRC) has decided to start work on the development projects as soon as possible.

He said that the purpose of the MoU between China and Pakistan, regarding the China-Pakistan economic corridor, was to increase trade links between the two countries through a network of rail, fiber, optic cables and energy pipelines.

“Pakistan is interested in enhancing foreign investment in the country.

"The government also wants to overcome the current energy crisis, while the Chinese government requires access to Gwadar port,” said the secretary.

Tarar also said that the federal government will not borrow loans from China on behalf of the provinces.

"It will be the responsibility of the provinces to get loans from China for their development projects," he said.

“The government will not take a loan from China for the power projects,” the secretary said.

Tarar also informed the committee that the ministry also forwarded a summary regarding the census to the CCI for approval.

He said that it has been pending for the past year due to the concerns of Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch.