China for new laws to ensure transparency in CPEC construction work
Islamabad, Pakistan: Fearing possibilities of large-scale corruption in construction work of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China has asked Pakistan to prepare a set of laws that can ensure corruption free infrastructural development in CPEC projects.
According to sources, both countries will sign an agreement aimed at ensuring transparency in the implementation of CEPC projects.
Chinese Assistant Minister (deputy head) for National Bureau of Corruption Prevention, Liu Jianchao is reviewing prevailing anti-corruption laws of Pakistan and will come up recommendations for a set of new special laws to prevent corruption in construction works related with CPEC. Â those deal with corruption prevention.
Liu Jianchao has responsibility of hunting overseas fugitives and conducting exchanges with foreign countries. He has not only abundant diplomatic experiences but also know relevant laws and policies very well. Liu, born in 1964 in Dehui city, Northeast China’s Jilin province, graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University and studied at Oxford University. He became the youngest spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry in 2001 at the age of 38. His open attitude and eloquence won him praise from the media circle in his eight years at the post.
It may be mentioned that the most important projects to be completed under the CEPC initiative included Gwadar port, the second phase of the upgrading project of Karakoram Highway, motorway project between Karachi and Lahore, Thakot Havelian motorway, Gwadar port expressway, Gwadar international airport and Karachi-Sukkur motorway.
According to official sources, China and Pakistan will work together to make the CPEC and other bilateral development projects transparent and free of any corruption.
Liu Jianchao who was in Pakistan to attend Ombudsman Conference held meetings with Chairman, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other Pakistani officials and shared Chinese experience against corruption. During his meeting with NAB officials, Liu Jianchao, gave details of the ongoing efforts making the Chinese society free of corruption. For this, he gave credit to leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, especially Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During his meeting, he said that both countries would work closely to prevent, detect and control corruption in all the projects, undertaken at their bilateral level, he added. He was of the view that the leadership of both countries attached great importance to CPEC and wanted to make it successful at all costs. The Chinese minister, while praising high the Sino-Pak friendship said that they were looking forward to have close cooperation in fighting corruption. Liu Jianchao termed corruption a great threat to security, peace and socio-economic development.
He said his country had adopted a policy of zero tolerance against corruption. Thousands of Chinese people, found committing corruption had been punished. There were over 150 top government officials who had faced serious punishment for corrupt practices. He said there were about 600 corrupt Chinese officials who had fled abroad and the government succeeded in bringing them back and punished them under the law. It may be mentioned that 230,000 corrupt people were investigated and out of them 90 percent were punished during the last three years.
