CPEC and CPEC-Related Projects
- Caretaker governments are in power, but important, high-level CPEC meetings continue to take place.
- At Quetta forum, Chinese business leaders and government officials address investment concerns in Balochistan. [Read more]
- 55th CPEC progress review meeting held under leadership of caretaker finance minister, who expresses concerns about slow pace of progress on CPEC special economic zones. [Read more]
- First ultra-supercritical lignite-fueled power plant using Thar lignite (mined under CPEC) achieves financial close. [Read more]
- Construction of CPEC special economic zone in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir reportedly begins. [Read more]
Gwadar
- Anti-corruption body orders investigation into Gwadar land allotments. [Read more]
- Protests in Gwadar district over electric power blackouts. [Read more]
- Leading Gwadar national assembly candidate says locals deserve better from CPEC. [Read more]
Economy and Trade
- Finance Ministry says PML-N borrowed PKR 180 billion to reduce circular debt, which is being recovered through electricity bills surcharges. [Read more]
- Pak-China FTA making the rounds again (Business Recorder)
- Fitch warns of growing risks to Pakistan’s economy (DAWN)
- Back to the Fund. Pakistan’s trade deficit widens and forex reserves decline. A former adviser to Pakistan’s finance ministry describes the situation as “horrendous.” [Read more]
- Another Chinese company joins the growing pack of automobile manufacturers in Pakistan. [Read more]
Regional/Strategic
- Pakistan’s ambassador says Azerbaijan can be connected to CPEC via Afghanistan and the Lapis Lazuli Corridor. [Read more]
- Haley presses Modi on Iranian oil, but says Chabahar port “has to happen.” [Read more]
- Tehran warns New Delhi that it will pay a price for Iranian oil import cuts, chides it for slow progress on Chabahar. [Read more]
- Indian news outlet says Maldives “snubs” India again by signing “power deal” with Pakistan. [Read more]
- See also: India emerging as a favourite punching bag for Maldives President (Economic Times)
- Sheikh Hasina adviser derides opposition BNP as “pro-Pakistan and pro-China.” [Read more]
- Pakistan launches remote sensing satellite in China (DAWN)
- Sri Lanka Hopes India Will Take Stake in Airport With No Flights (Bloomberg)
