CPEC being considered a ‘game changer’, says Iqbal

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, speaking at the All-Parties Conference organized by Baloch National Party, stated that China Pakistan Economic Corridor is being considered a ‘game changer’ in the region.

He added that development projects related to the energy sector worth $25 billion will be completed under the economic corridor.

The minister said that power projected worth of $11.5 billion is being completed in Sindh while energy projects worth $7.1 billion are being completed in Sindh while energy projects worth $6.9 billion are being completed in Punjab under CPEC.

He added that working is being done of CPEC with full transparency.

The minister added that the mega project was started on the consensus of Pakistan and China and has grabbed the world’s attention.

Balochistan National Party is organizing an “All Parties Conference” to discuss concerns on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Islamabad.

According to the conference’s press release, the leaders of the respective political parties urged the federal government to fulfill its promises regarding the economic corridor.

The parties also demanded the federal government to provide basic facilities to the people living in Gwadar and the locals should be given first priority on working on the economic corridor.

BNP-M president Sardar Akhtar Mengal has extended invitation to all parties to attend the conference which seeks to address the reservations regarding the economic corridor.

The conference will discuss reservations and concerns of smaller provinces with regard to the economic corridor project.

JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Iftikhar Chaudhary and others are attending the meeting.

In May 2015, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had chaired the APC in connection to the economic corridor in which all parties had reached a consensus on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project and pledged to take full political ownership.

The APC was convened to build consensus on the CPEC project as the leadership of some political parties from small provinces had shown their concerns regarding the possible route of the CPEC project.