RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has said that the Pakistan armed forces are aware of enemies’ campaign against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and vowed to turn this long cherished dream into reality.
“We are acutely aware of our rivals’ campaign against the corridor project, the COAS said during his visit to the Panjgur and Turbat area of Balochistan on Saturday to inspect a part of under construction road network as part of the CPEC by the Frontier Works Organization (FWO).
His remarks were made in an apparent reference to India which on multiple occasions voiced its concerns over the proposed CPEC and described it as ‘unacceptable’ for New Delhi.
In a press release issued on Saturday, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that in his address during his visit, the army chief emphasized that a secure and peaceful environment was a must to push all the planned development work.
The COAS lauded the law enforcement agencies for bringing a noticeable change in the overall security situation of the province. He specially commended the Frontier Corps (FC) and police for recently conducted successful operation against some foreign funded terrorists who were involved in disruption of law and order in Balochistan.
The army chief said that the ongoing ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ was not only an operation but a concept for a terror free Pakistan.
“It (Zarb-e-Azb) will continue to target all militants without any discrimination and hunt down terrorists anywhere across the country to achieve the end objective,” he said.
General Raheel Sharif was also given a briefing on construction work on the CPEC and was apprised that as many as 11 units of FWO have been employed in Balochistan for construction of 870 kilometers long stretch of roads at five different locations simultaneously, out of which 502 kilometers of roads have already been completed in less than one and half year on the special directive of the COAS.
The army chief appreciated FWO for their untiring efforts in construction of such a vast road network across the length and breadth of Balochistan against all odds at such an amazing pace and paid rich tributes to FWO soldiers for sacrificing their lives and limbs for undertaking this national project.
Emphasizing the importance of the CPEC, the COAS said that Construction of these roads will link Gawadar Port with rest of the country at Chaman and Indus Highway to yield the real envisioned dividend of the Port and Corridor Project to transform the lives of people and bring prosperity to the region.
The COAS said that the CPEC and Gwadar Port will be built and developed as one of the most strategic deep sea port in the region at all costs.
Meanwhile, talking to notables of the area, the COAS paid rich tributes to the proud and valiant people of Balochistan and thanked them for their unconditional cooperation and support for these projects assuring them that they will be best served by these projects.
The army chief said that the potential of Balochistan as a regional hub for trade in goods and energy will only be realized with a whole of nation approach for its security and development.
