CPEC is above politics: Pakistani Planning Minister

Islamabad: Pakistani Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was above politics.

In a tweet, the minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government was committed to take the mega project to new heights.

“Building industrial zones, new working groups for agriculture, science and technology and information technology, significantly accelerating work on western alignment, expanding scope of Gwadar all show PMIK (PM Imran Khan) government commitment to CPEC”, he said adding there should be no politics on the mega project.

Earlier, Asad Umar had directed to expedite work on the ongoing projects of the CPEC. He reviewed the ongoing projects under CPEC and discussed the issues faced by the investors last day.

Discussing the delays in the CPEC energy projects owing to COVID-19 pandemic, he directed power division to formulate a policy to deal extensions issues of the power projects.

The power division was also directed to ensure the availability of sufficient power to operationalize the 660 KV Matari Lahore Transmission Line from September 01, 2021.

Umar asked the Ministry of Communication to expedite work on the Thakot–Raikot Road and Zhob-Quetta road projects.