ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Chairman of Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a success story within a short span of five years, providing employment to over 70,000 Pakistanis and empowerment to youth and women through provision of opportunities.
While addressing the Prize Distribution Ceremony for the winners of the Essay Competition held at the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad on Tuesday, Mushahid Hussain said that there is a need to counter negative propaganda against CPEC emanating from vested interests in which the media is to play a substantial role.
Senator Mushahid Hussain said that the success of CPEC is evident from what it has achieved: CPEC has revived dead projects like Gwadar Port and the Thar Coal Mining project, resolved the chronic energy crisis, built the Western Route which has shortened a two-day journey from Quetta to Gwadar to a mere eight hours, and CPEC has empowered women of remote places like Thar to play a substantial role in the development projects, adding that ‘CPEC today unites the provinces of Pakistan in a common quest for a better tomorrow”.
“Pakistan is fortunate to have a friend like China that always stood by us through thick and thin,” he said.
Senator Mushahid Hussain, Chairman PCI and Senate Foreign Affairs Committee addresses the award ceremony of the Essay Competition.@Mushahid @MushahidH1 #ToChinaWithLove pic.twitter.com/p6bDQOPISE
— Pak-China Institute (@pcipakchina) November 20, 2018
The Essay Competition with the topic “To China, With Love -A letter to China”, was organized by the PCI in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy, aiming at to depict the popular perception of Pakistanis especially youth regarding Pakistan-China Friendship.
Senator Mushahid Hussain congratulated the Pakistan-China Institute and the Chinese Embassy for organizing the Essay Competition that received more than 1,800 essays from all over Pakistan.
Mushahid Hussain said that it was a great initiative to invite an essay of friendship which encouraged participation from all over Pakistan.
While giving the Opening Remarks, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing said that since the past 40 years of ‘reform & opening up’, the Chinese people have devoted resources towards the economic development of the Country, lifting 700 million people out of poverty.
The ambassador further said that the Chinese economy has been growing at an annual average of 9.5 percent and through the signing of CPEC, China wishes to bring a similar change for the better in the lives of the people of Pakistan.
Yao Jing further added that Pak-China relations are now in a new stage of enhanced cooperation with CPEC entering a higher level of development.
The Ceremony was part of the event “Open House Event and Sangam Club Gala 2018”.
Karachi’s Abeera Hassan was the first prize winner for the English Category and Tehzeeb Hussain Bercha from Gilgit Baltistan was the first prize winner for the Urdu Category, both of whom were extremely delighted to have received the award, and said that they look forward to such initiatives in the future.
They further stressed that this will not only improve the grass root level relationships between the two countries but will also serve as an encouragement to the youth.
Senator Mushahid Hussain and Ambassador Yao Jing with all the winners of the Essay Competition. #ToChinaWithLove pic.twitter.com/GNqG8v1ZaK
— Pak-China Institute (@pcipakchina) November 20, 2018
The event comprised of cultural performances including Taichi and Chinese folk music.
The event was attended by high profile personalities including Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, the Director General Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) Jamal Shah, the Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy of China Zhao Lijian and the Head of Confucius Institute Dr. Zhang Daojian.
The 500-plus diverse audience largely comprised of students from different universities and media groups, plus people from all provinces of Pakistan.
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