ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Federal Government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) leadership vowed to implement China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in the province on fast track basis after developing complete consensus.
The leadership met at Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform expressed the satisfaction over the implementation of All Parties Conferences (APCs)’s decisions on Western route and resolved to move on others projects through mutual coordination.
Federal Minister Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal chaired the meeting, which was attended by KPK Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Asad Qaisar, Speaker KPK Assembly, Opposition Leader in KPK Assembly, Parliamentary Leaders in provincial assembly, MNAs and Senators from KPK.
Linkages of parts of KPK with Western Route as well as development of industrial economic zones were discussed in the meeting.
It was agreed that work on Western route is progressing according to consensus of May 28, 2015 in APC.
Indus upgradation will be prioritized and Kohat-Jund Road will be included in PSDP-2016-17.
The meeting was informed that Peshawar-DI Khan section of Railway, is covered under CPEC.
The Coordination Committee will brief representatives of provinces about working to technical group of CPEC.
Ahsan Iqbal allayed the concerns of KPK leadership on Western route and said that CPEC is a national project and it is responsibility of all provinces and regions to work jointly to make it a success.
“We should be mindful that some forces don’t want to see CPEC to become successful. Therefore, we need to work more closely,” he urged.
Ahsan Iqbal assured KPK committee that Federal Government would implement the consensus reached on CPEC by national political leadership at two APCs in letter and spirit.
“CPEC is not the project of one government or PML-N government has any monopoly over it. It is long-term project upto 2030 and future four governments to continue to work on this project,” Ahsan Iqbal added.
He assured that no province including KP would not be discriminated in CPEC in any way. “We consider KPK as key partner in CPEC like the other federating units, which rendered immense sacrifices for the sake of sovereignty and solidarity of the country.”
The Minister pointed out that some key facts should be borne in mind to understand CPEC to remove the misgivings on it.
He said China didn’t put $46 billion on discretion of Pakistan to distribute it among federating units.
It is portfolio investment with major chunk of $35 billion in energy sector.
Ahsan Iqbal said that Karokarum Highway is central in CPEC, whose full upgradation would make CPEC operational.
He assured that economic zones would be developed under CPEC framework in consultation with all provinces.
However, the working group on economic zones is still to be constituted, he pointed out and added that during the recent visit of China to inspect Chinese economic zones, the provincial representatives including KPK were part of delegation.
Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan is in competition with the other countries and CPEC provided the country an opportunity to excel in the world.
“Now, we require security and stability in the country to foil the designs against it.”
He said that KPK image should go as business-friendly across the globe to attract the foreign investment in the province.
Chief Minister KPK Pervez Khattak, expressed satisfaction on the meeting and assured full cooperation of KPK government in making CPEC a success.
Source: APP
