COVID-19 posing serious challenges to Pakistan's economy: Minister

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic (COVID-19) poses serious challenges to Pakistan's economic and social development, Pakistan’s energy minister Omar Ayub Khan was quoted as saying.

“Pakistan hopes to further strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China, focus on promoting important projects in the CPEC, vigorously develop clean energy, and promote the sustainable development of Pakistan's economy and energy, the federal energy minister observed while talking to Chinese Ambassador, Yao Jing, in Islamabad, according to a communication received from the Chinese embassy on July 1. 

Ambassador Yao informed the minister that with the joint efforts of both China and Pakistan, important positive progress had been made in the clean energy projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In this regard he referred to the projects of Kehala and Patan Hydropower Station. 

He reiterated that China was willing to continue to strengthen its support and cooperation in the fight against epidemics in Pakistan, jointly operate well-established energy projects, steadily promote energy cooperation in the CPEC and support the economic recovery and livelihood of Pakistani people. 

Omar Ayub reciprocated by having said that the friendship between China and Pakistan was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of both the countries.