ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday asked neighboring India to take advantage of the CPEC mega project instead of obstructing it.
Highlighting the importance of the 10-year completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, Shahbaz Sharif said that Iran, Afghanistan, the Middle East and the entire region will also benefit from it. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, he said, “CPEC is a beautiful project to connect not only regions and regions but also the hearts of people.”
The Prime Minister vowed to double the pace of development as it is not only to improve roads, rail, ports and air routes but it will also help in the areas of health, education and skill development. Public participation will also be seen in this process. Calling it a game changer, the Prime Minister said that CPEC will have a positive impact on the quality of life of the people in the region.
Shahbaz Sharif congratulated the leadership and people of Pakistan and China on the completion of 10 years of CPEC, a new chapter in the evergreen and reliable strategic cooperative partnership between the two iron brothers. He said that this project is a great example of the great Chinese leader Xi Jinping and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif’s vision of “development for all”.
“The Belt and Road Initiative is a manifestation of Chinese President Xi’s vision of peace, friendship and economic partnership.”
He lamented that obstacles were placed in the way of the project during the last four years of the previous government, besides baseless accusations were leveled at a great friend like China. He further said that the enemies of CPEC are against peace, development and prosperity in Pakistan and the region because they do not want to eradicate poverty from the country. He said that CPEC ushered in a new era of mutual partnership between Pakistan and China and strengthened their bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that CPEC includes various projects ranging from water supply to education and technical and skill-based training. With the construction of nine Special Economic Zones (SEZs), new technology will be transferred to Pakistan, which will ultimately help boost local production.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the impact of the project on the effectiveness of NDMA and early warning system for natural calamities as these were parts of CPEC. Similarly, he said, agriculture-related projects have also been included in the CPEC to ensure food security.
Meanwhile, while addressing a ceremony to mark the decade of signing of CPEC, Shahbaz Sharif said that the mega project is a story of hard work and tireless commitment between the leaderships of Pakistan and China. “Pakistan ushered in a new era of development with the completion of hundreds of projects under the CPEC umbrella, including coal-fired power plants, the Orange Line mass transit project and road infrastructure,” he said.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb and Chinese Governor Pang Chunxu were also present. The Prime Minister recalled that in July 2013, the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Beijing, where he signed an agreement promising to develop a long-term plan for CPEC. He said that on July 5, 2013, we witnessed the memorable CPEC signing ceremony where President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif signed the milestone agreement.
Describing CPEC as a very transparent project, the Prime Minister said that the Chinese government and companies have invested 25.4 billion dollars in various projects. Thousands of Chinese worked day and night with their Pakistani counterparts to create a history of commitment and goodwill between the two sides. He appreciated Chinese President Xi Jinping’s unprecedented support of CPEC for the welfare of the people of Pakistan. He also highlighted the dedication of Nawaz Sharif and his team including Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, businessmen and skilled workers and said that their great work will be remembered in times to come.
Shahbaz Sharif expressed the belief that CPEC will give a big start in various sectors including agriculture, special economic zones, information technology and exploration of mineral resources. He thanked President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for supporting Pakistan, especially as it awaited a staff-level agreement with the IMF. He hoped that the final approval of the agreement would be given in the meeting of the IMF board on July 12. After the IMF deal, he said, Pakistan is safe after avoiding default and termed it as a growth opportunity for the country.
He pledged to fulfill IMF conditions, which the previous government had earlier violated. He also acknowledged China’s financial support, including the repayment of its loans, and noted the support of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Development Fund in helping Pakistan overcome its financial crisis. He said that they need to work hard and protect the poor from inflation while the rich need to play a role in this regard.
In his address, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said that progress on CPEC has returned to a point where the project will prove to be a game changer for regional development. The minister said that unfortunately the project was scandalized and neglected by the previous government.
The Minister said that $29 billion worth of projects under CPEC have either been completed or are nearing completion, adding that the next target is to promote industrial cooperation to open up new opportunities for Pakistan.
He said that by 2030, CPEC will help bring revolution in the fields of agriculture, industry and technology, create new opportunities for the youth of the country and secure a rightful place for Pakistan in the region.
