Meaningful provinces role key to CPEC effectiveness: Asad Qaiser

Islamabad: National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has said that active and meaningful involvement by Pakistani provinces in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be central to its effectiveness.

Addressing a seminar as chief guest on the ‘Role of Parliament in Promoting Investment, Trade, Export, Commerce and Connectivity under CPEC.’ here, Qaiser stressed said that CPEC project was a fortune for Pakistan that will add to rebuilding the economy of the country.

“An active and meaningful involvement by Pakistani provinces in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be central to its effectiveness,” Asad Qaiser stated.

The seminar was held at Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services organised by National Assembly of Pakistan in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).

Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on CPEC Sher Ali Arbab and Country head Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Dr Jochen Hippler were the guest speakers.

Asad Qaiser observed that with improved connectivity between the vast regions of Western China and Central Asia to the Arabian Sea, immense economic opportunities lie for various industrial clusters close to the CPEC routes.

The initiative, he remarked, further enhancedPakistan’s position as a strong regional stakeholder by engaging with a number of countries for bilateral trade, industrial and economic development through high impact projects in various fields like energy, infrastructure, industry and tourism to name a few, the Speaker National Assembly said.

Asad Umar appreciated the CPEC committee initiative to visit various regions in Pakistan and engage with local populations.

He noted that the government was also visiting various parts of the country during the planning of CPEC projects and it is interesting that the CPEC committee is visiting various places and engaging with public on this mega project. He said that the committees in the parliament are working beyond party line and work in the national interest, CPEC committee is one of them having a representation from various parties working together to oversight the CPEC projects and give recommendations.

Sher Ali Arbab, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on CPEC, gave a brief presentation on the recommendations drawn during the regional seminars in Peshawar, Karachi, Gwadar, Lahore, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK and Quetta.

He mentioned that with Pakistan decisively turning a page in its history by overcoming challenges of security and energy shortages, and now strongly heading towards achieving the goal of a highly developed economy, duly supported by well-planned industrialisation which is harmonised to best utilise its natural endowments and human capital, its relationship with other countries plays an important role in its growth and stability.

Dr Jochen Hippler highlighted the role of FES for Democracy and Governance, Regional Connectivity, Social Justice and Economy. He said that the CPEC committee and especially the Chairman is playing a wonderful role in pushing the regional connectivity project and the comprehensive exercise undertaken in four provinces and two regions was a good idea to engage with civil society and stakeholders at local level.

The event was also attended by Ihsan Iqbal, Mehnaz Akbar Aziz, Nafeesa Inayat Ullah Khattak, academia, experts, senior government officials, media representatives and civil society.