Pakistan's Khan uses special ordinance to push China's Belt and Road

Powerful new agency and tax holiday for Gwadar port operator likely to fuel controversy

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, left, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meet in Beijing on Oct. 8. The Pakistani government's decision to set up an agency to push Belt and Road came on the eve of Khan's visit. © Reuters

ADNAN AAMIR, Contributing writer

October 13, 2019 13:05 JST

QUETTA, Pakistan -- Pakistan's government, led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, has bypassed the legislature and used presidential ordinances to establish a powerful new authority to accelerate the major Belt and Road project known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The government has also provided a 23-year tax exemption to the Chinese company operating Gwadar port, one of the key facilities in the project.