Adnan Aamir

How a new railway will extend China’s reach into Central Asia The 523km line linking China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan could eventually be extended to the Middle East, South Asia and Europe.

www.scmp.com/economy/glob...
3/3

✅China Railway has posted a business tender for Kyrgyzstan, which is expected to be built by 2030.

✅ This railway line could eventually be extended to the Middle East, & South Asia & Europe.

✅This project has better prospects of success as compared to the ML-1 railway project under #CPEC.
2/3

🚨China approves new railway line for Central Asia:

✅China has approved a 523km railway line that will connect Kashgar with several cities in Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan.

✅This railway line project will employ a build-operate-transfer model & have a total investment of $8 billion.
1/3

Pakistan tightens online censorship with crackdown on VPNs Ban threatens free expression and economy, critics say

My story on VPN blocking in Pakistan:

asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Pak...

🔴 NGIA can't be a regional hub because Pakistan does not have a major airline, which can use it as a hub.

🔴 Government needs to accept the ground realities about NGIA and should not hype it as it will result in unrealistic expectations!
4/4

🔴 NGIA was built for mass air travel anticipated after the success of Gwadar as a major commercial hub, which has not happened so far. Tourism can't be an alternative for that.
3/4

🔴NGIA is built with a $230 million Chinese grant and the largest #CPEC project in #Balochistan so far.

🔴Minister Iqbal asked authorities to make Gwadar a tourist hub and position the Gwadar airport as a regional hub.
2/4

🚨 New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) not commercially viable:

🔴Yesterday, officials told Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal that until the Gwadar Port and Gwadar Free Zone are fully developed, the NGIA cannot become commercially viable.
1/4

IMF review of Pakistan's $7bn bailout: 5 things to know Unscheduled visit by fund staff raises questions over future of loan program

My story for Nikkei Asia on IMF Mission's unscheduled visit to Pakistan.
asia.nikkei.com/Economy/IMF-...