SAFRON Minister pledges to make CPEC world’s first drug-free corridor

ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP):Minister for Narcotics Control and States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Shehryar Khan Afridi Wednesday vowed to transform China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into world’s first drug-free investment and trade corridor.

He expressed these views while speaking to Vice Chairman of Jiangxi Provincial Committee of People’s Political Consultative Conference, Chen Junqing who visited the ministry here with a 15-member delegation.

He said the state-of-the-art equipment would be installed to achieve this goal, besides running an awareness campaign.

Afridi said China, Pakistan bond is unprecedented and this iron bond has cemented this brotherly friendship.

Exchange of students is also key to this Pakistan, China exchange programme, he added.

“My Prime Minister values highly President Xi’s vision on poverty alleviation and corruption. Entire Pakistan stands united to support China and CPEC. China today pushes the vision of a global community with shared future for the mankind and this is what distinguishes China from rest of the world,” the minister said.

He said Pakistan is the first line of defence against the menace of narcotics. He said 85 percent of drugs are produced in Afghanistan and Pakistan is playing a pivotal role to protect the world from drugs menace.

“We have developed biggest data bank of narcotics crimes and money laundering. We are taking care of Afghan refugees and we are still catering to three million and for past forty years. We are protecting them and taking care of them with provision of education, health and safety and business and livelihood,” he added.

Vice Chairman Chen Junqing said Prime Minister Khan’s visit to China was instrumental in bringing investment to Pakistan.

“No matter how the international scenario, Pakistan, China friendship remains the same. We admire achievements made by Narcotics Control ministry and Safron ministry.

Jiangxi has 63.1 percent forest coverage rate and it’s the most beautiful in China. Jiangxi is culturally profound and rich in forest coverage,” he said.

He said there is a huge space of bilateral cooperation that would contribute to regional and global peace.

“We are impressed by your vision on CPEC. We would love to cooperate and there is a huge potential for future cooperation. Our investors are keen to invest in jade and minerals exploration in KP,” he concluded.