Flourishing ties between Pakistan and China are bringing scores of Chinese to Pakistani cities.
A Pakistani official said earlier this week that by 2025, there would be nearly five million Chinese living and working in Pakistan. They would need special services, including in the field of health. Consequently, the two nations are signing the China Pakistan Health Corridor (CPHC). which will have to be provided through collaborations between Pakistani and Chinese institutions under the health corridor.
The plan is in tune with an earlier investigation the Dawn newspaper indicating that China virutally wanted to colonise Pakistan under a Long term plan for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. "The plan envisages a deep and broad-based penetration of most sectors of Pakistan’s economy as well as its society by Chinese enterprises and culture. Its scope has no precedent in Pakistan’s history in terms of how far it opens up the domestic economy to participation by foreign enterprises, " the report had said.
Vice Chancellor Health Services Academy (HSA) Dr Shahzad Ali Khan told Pakistani newspaper The News that, “In order to meet the health needs of millions of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian States, we need to have specialised health facilities, based on both modern and traditional treatment systems".
Khan said talks were in advanced stages to sign a number of collaborative agreements with Chinese academic bodies, research institutes and biotechnological firms. He added that the two nations will sign several agreements this week itself.
Khan said that the plan is to train Pakistanis in modern medical technologies as well as traditional Chinese medicines–a treatment preferred by millions of people in China. "These experts would not only fulfill the medical needs of visiting Chinese nationals but also of the Pakistani people, who believe in alternate medicine”, Khan explained.
To initiate the CPHC, Pakistan's Health Services Academy will sign the MoU with the Department of Public Health of Wuhan University in the field of public health.
The CPHC will be based in Jinan, China, and link up Chinese and Pakistani universities, hospitals and medical institutes.
The collaboration will focus on digital health, medical technology, traditional medicine and joint health research projects. Besides modern medicine, the two nations will also collaborate on traditional and alternative medicines.
The CPHC will consist of collaborative centres along China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) routes.
Also Read: Despite reassurances by Taliban, China fears terror surge in Xinjiang
Also Read: Dasu power project yet to restart as Pakistan falters in paying Chinese investors
Also Read: Chinese fishing trawlers in Balochistan cause concern in Islamabad
