Pakistan replaces its Belt and Road chief with a person loved by Beijing

Pakistan's government, led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Aug. 3 appointed Khalid Mansoor to the country's top position responsible for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) -- the $50 billion local component of Beijing's Belt and Road Infrastructure plan -- replacing Asim Saleem Bajwa, a retired army general, reports Nikkei Asia.

Bajwa had been chairman of the CPEC authority since November 2019. As he takes over, Mansoor's title will now be 'Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CPEC Affairs', reports Nikkei Asia.

Masoor has been working in several top management positions in many energy-related companies including Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company and Hub Power Company Limited in his career that has been spanning for the past 32 years.

Asad Umar, Pakistan's planning minister, tweeted: "I want to thank@AsimSBajwa for his services in moving CPEC forward and playing a vital role in broadening the CPEC scope with a transition to the second phase of CPEC. His dedication and commitment was a source of great strength and support."

"I welcome Khalid Mansoor to the team as SAPM for CPEC affairs. His vast corporate experience , with extensive work with Chinese companies and his direct involvement in leading some of the biggest CPEC projects makes him an ideal person to lead the next phase of CPEC," he said.