Ahsan Iqbal’s categorical assurance on CPEC

AS Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while talking to a Chinese delegation on Friday, described China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as testimony of Pak-China deep-rooted friendship, his Minister for Planning Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, who is closely associated with the process of planning and implementation of this gigantic project reiterated commitment of the Government to timely completion of all the projects under the umbrella of CPEC.

During a meeting with Chinese Ambassador, he discussed with him progress on implementation and how to expedite the process.

The focus that the Government has on CPEC, sparks confidence that the historic project would soon see light of the day despite conspiracies being hatched by some local elements and their foreign masters. CPEC brings to Pakistan massive investment of $46 billion and the project is so fundamental to all-round socio-economic development of the country that our enemies are openly working to derail or, at least, slow down its progress.

Our ‘allies’ have also been providing assistance worth billions of dollars but its impact is not visible on the ground as they also saw to it that the money is not spent on sectors that could bring about a change in the lives of the people of Pakistan like infrastructure, energy and education. These are the sectors, where Chinese have expressed their commitment to make huge investment; and that is why CPEC is being referred to as a game changer project. It will benefit all regions and Provinces of the country in different ways but regrettably some unscrupulous elements are bent upon creating obstacles in the smooth implementation of the project. There is, however, national consensus on CPEC and machinations of handful of trouble-makers would not succeed.