ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Tuesday said that Orange Line Train Project, Lahore was not part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.
The Punjab government was working on this project for the last four years in an effort to provide a robust transport facility to people, he made these remarks while briefing Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms held in the Parliament House here.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator, Col (Retd) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi chaired the meeting.
He informed that federal government had not allocated any fund for the Orange Line Train while the Punjab provincial government was completing this vital project from its own budget and resources.
Terming the CPEC as project of national importance, he said the think tanks in Europe and the USA now had started viewing Pakistan in a very positive perspective due to this project.
“It is our collective responsibility to make this mega project a success story,” he added.
Ahsan Iqbal said that countries like, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam were attracting foreign direct investment amounting to billion of dollars.
After the success of US$ 46 billion CPEC project, Pakistan would be able to attract more investment from other countries, he added.
He said that there was complete consensus on CPEC as it was beneficial for Pakistan.
About investment in the energy and transport infrastructure, he said that Chinese private companies would set up energy projects in accordance with energy policy of the Pakistan government.
He said first section of Western Route of CPEC from Gwadar to Quetta would be completed by December this year.
The Minister said that FATA University, Zhob University and Gwadar University would be opened this year on the Western route of CPEC.
Briefing the Committee, Chairman, CPEC, Maj Gen. Zahir Shah informed that a railway track, oil pipeline, optic fiber and road infrastructure would be built between China and Pakistan under CPEC for the economic growth of both the countries.
He said that early harvest energy and transport infrastructure projects would also be completed under the CPEC initiative to boost our economy.
The Member Water, WAPDA also updated the member about the progress of work on Kachhi Canal Project, D.G. Khan.
He said in the first phase, Kachhi Canal has been completed upto Dera Bugti.
Upon completion, the Canal would irrigate more than 800,000 acre of land and would prove game changer for Balochistan province, he added.
