CPEC a North to South Connectivity, PM’s aide

Islamabad: China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a North to South Connectivity, a senior Pakistani official said.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Security Division Dr Moeed Yusuf said CPEC was a win-win for the whole region.

CPEC is benefiting all neighbouring countries and expediting Pakistan’s linkage with Central Asia including Iran, Afghanistan whereas it could be extended for Eastern connectivity, he said on Sunday evening.

In a statement, he said the two-day Islamabad Security Dialogue that ended on Thursday gave a clear message to the world that the country’s national leadership with clear vision and direction was striving to unveil a new era of regional peace, stability and development.

He said the government wanted to see Pakistan at the core of all global economic activities amid its geo-economic location potential.

Yusuf said the country’s civil and military leadership was on the same page to roll out a comprehensive national security framework based on a clear strategic vision which it scarcely had any in the past.

He said the New Comprehensive Security Framework (CSF) was based on the three pillars of military, economic and human security with economic progress at the core.

The Economic Security lens of National Security framework namely connectivity, development partnerships and regional peace were interlinked. “It will also lead to a cultural shift as it demands to have all inclusive approach of the government and proactive policy making,” he added.

The new National Security framework encapsulated unapologetic and self confident behavior of Pakistan, firm stand on principle stance and consistency of policies along with introspective and pragmatic approach, the SAPM said.

He was of the view that it was the country’s vision to benefit from the geo-economic location as the country wants to be the center of economic activities in the world.