Pakistan’s records massive increase in its exports to China
As per the official data from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), Pakistan’s exports to China witnessed an increase of 41% and touched the $312.33 million marks in December 2020. Overall, from January to December 2020, China’s imports from Pakistan counted $2.12 billion irrespective of the uncertainty caused by COVID-19 during 2020.
BEIJING/ISLAMABAD-Pakistan’s exports to China crossed $312.33 million in December 2020, shows the official data from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC).
Exports increased by 41% on a year-on-year basis last December, according to GACC figures received by Pakistan.
Despite the epidemic of COVID-19, bilateral trade has increased significantly. Pakistan’s exports stood at $312.33 million in December 2020, up 41 percent from $221 million in the same month of the previous year, which grew for six consecutive months, China Economic Net (CEN) reported.
China’s biomass tech to ensure energy supply and promote agricultural modernization
In a major development to address the issue of an energy shortage, China has once again come to rescue Pakistan by exporting her biomass technology developed by Lanzhou University. Experts have predicted that the technology will help Pakistan to cope with insufficient energy supply and promote agricultural modernization.
Islamabad – Research and technologies on biomass energy and circular agriculture developed by Lanzhou University are being introduced to Pakistan, helping the country cope with insufficient energy supply and promote agricultural modernization, CEN reported yesterday.
It said that biomass energy is is non-fossil organic materials such as wood, straw, vegetable oils and wastes from forestry, agriculture and industry, as well as municipal solid waste.
As an important renewable source of energy, it contains stored energy from the sun. When biomass is burned, the chemical energy in biomass is released as heat.
Lanzhou University, located in Gansu Province in western China where there is drought with little rain, has focused on the development of circular agriculture and made innovations in the fields of planting, animal husbandry and biomass energy over the years.
Prime Minister launches Coronavirus vaccination
ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday launched vaccination against the deadly coronavirus, initially for health workers, and urged the people to strictly adhere to the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to stop its spread. After witnessing the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine to health workers here, the prime minister said in the first phase, health workers, who were on the front-line in the fight against coronavirus, as well as those vulnerable due to age, would be vaccinated.
He appreciated China for providing 0.5 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to Pakistan. which, he assured, would be judiciously distributed across all the provinces.
The prime minister urged the health workers to essentially get them vaccinated as per the international practice.
Imran Khan said though the coronavirus in Pakistan was subsiding with the grace of Allah Almighty, the people, however, should continue to take precautionary measures and follow the SOPs, including the use of face masks.
He said contrary to various countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, where around 400,000 and 100,000 people, respectively, lost their lives to the Covid-19 and their economies badly affected due to lock-downs, the economy in Pakistan, except the services sector, was open and moving ahead.
Pak, China agree on early launching of ML-1 under CPEC
hinese Ambassador Nong Rong here on Tuesday called on Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati and discussed matters relating to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Mainline (ML-1) projects. While appreciating the role of the Chinese ambassador in taking Pak-China friendship forward, Azam Swati said that ML-1 is of prime importance and will create a number of opportunities for the locals. Both sides agreed on early launching of Main Line 1 project under CPEC. Chinese Ambassador said that ML-1 project will open new avenues of cooperation between Pakistan and China.
ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong here on Tuesday called on Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati and discussed matters pertaining to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Mainline (ML-1) projects.The minister thanked the Chinese Ambassador for his keen interest in the ML-1 project, a news release said.
Azam Swati appreciated the services rendered by the Chinese ambassador, and both the sides agreed on early launching of the ML-1 aimed at further strengthening the Pak-China friendship.
PARCO coastal refinery project to be of prime significance in 10th Pak-China JCC meeting
Pakistan is seeking a Chinese partnership in building a state-of-art PARCO coastal refinery and petrochemical complex worth $8-9 billion. It will be built at Hub, Balochistan. The project will be proposed during the 10th Pak-China JCC meeting on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to seek investment from China for becoming a shareholder in the state-of-art PARCO coastal refinery and petrochemical complex of $8-9 billion, to be built at Hub, Balochistan.
In addition, Islamabad has also asked Beijing to invest in projects, including upgradation of existing refineries, setting up of underground gas storages, exploration and production activities and national seismic surveys in frontiers and hard areas, such as some pockets of Balochistan and bordering areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
And now in the next 10th Pak-China JCC meeting, the PARCO coastal refinery project among others is the main project on part of Pakistan that will be included in the agenda. More importantly, projects like LNG storages and exploration and production projects will be also offered to China in the 10th JCC meeting. “Pakistan wants the investment in refinery, exploration & production activities and LNG storages projects from China under the CPEC umbrella and seismic surveys in frontiers and hard areas.”
China donates vaccines to Pak army on a priority basis
Pakistan Army has donated the vaccines it received from China to the national vaccine drive. Pakistan Army is the first army in the world to get vaccines from China. A statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) indicated that the health workers will be given a priority in this regard since they are the frontline warriors. Moreover, ISPR said that Pakistan’s Armed forces extend their deepest gratitude to PLA and the People’s Republic of China for this magnanimous donation during testing times.
The Pakistan Army became the world’s first foreign military on Monday to receive a coronavirus vaccine donation from the Chinese military, but decided to donate it to the national vaccine drive, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
“People’s Liberation Army (PLA), People’s Republic of China has donated COVID-19 vaccine for Pakistan Armed Forces,” said the ISPS in a statement.
The ISPR said that the army will not keep the vaccine for themselves, but instead contribute to the national vaccine drive.
The ISPR said that the contribution was done to keep with the “Pakistan Armed Forces’ traditional spirit of nation comes first, always and every time”.
Pakistan becomes the first country to give green signal to third Chinese Vaccine
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), after green signaling CanSino and Sinopharm vaccines, allowed the third Chinese vaccine “ZF2001” to conduct stage three trials in Pakistan. The vaccine is being co-developed by Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biologic Pharmacy Co. Ltd, and the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. University of Health Sciences (UHS) spokesperson Dr Shehnoor Azhar said that this vaccine seems very effective since it triggers immunity response.
Islamabad – Pakistan has become the first country in the world as a recipient of the third Chinese vaccine “ZF2001” to boost up its COVID-19 vaccination drive, Gwadar Pro reported on Sunday.
The third Chinese vaccine is being co-developed by Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biologic Pharmacy Co. Ltd, and the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved ZF2001’s last stage trials usually called Phase III Clinical Trials in order to pave its way for emergency use authentication shortly.
CPEC energy projects have made load shedding a relic of the past in Pakistan
Ehtisham Tanvir, an engineer from Lahore working at Sahiwal Coal Power Plant under CPEC, while highlighting the importance of power projects under CPEC, said that these projects have contributed a lot towards addressing the issue of load shedding in Pakistan. Moreover, he appreciated his Chinese colleagues who made a great sacrifice by working even during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure a smooth supply of energy to Pakistan.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, electricity generated by China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) energy projects accounted for about one-third of Pakistan’s power supply, according to the Chinese embassy in Pakistan.
Liu Binxiang, a 36-year-old Chinese engineer working in Pakistan’s Sahiwal coal-fired power plant, is one of the thousands of staff who contributed to the achievement.
Liu began working at the plant in 2015 when the major energy project under the CPEC launched construction. He originally planned to return to China for a vacation in February 2020. However, his plan was stymied by the sudden outbreak of Covid-19.
