Shehbaz Sharif orders to ensure smooth sailing for CPEC
ISLAMABAD, August 1: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to resolve the Chinese investors’ problems as the top priority to ensure smooth sailing for the mega China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, a close aide said.
Speaking to Gwadar Pro, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said the PM had asked all the ministries and departments to facilitate the Chinese investors and remove any hurdles which were become cause of delays in CPEC progress.
Ismail mentioned the last week’s meeting between the PM and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong where the PM had expressed complete commitment to the CPEC goals.
The PM had then emphasised the importance of key projects like Main Line One (ML-1) and Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) in Pakistan’s development plans and desired to move towards the finalisation of these projects in the upcoming 11th meeting of the CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC).
“The PM has taken the matter forward and ordered all the concerned to make things easier for the Chinese investors and workers. He has asked them to remove unnecessary hurdles,” the minister remarked.
CPEC is a huge asset for Pakistan’s future with huge investments by China. The CPEC will result in a major increase in Pakistan’s economy by increasing trade with China, Central Asia, Russia, Middle East and Europe.
Even within the construction phase and completion of the CPEC there is a visible economic growth in Pakistan because of increase in industrial development due to the availability of resources.
Between the construction phase of the CPEC and after the completion of CPEC route the value of the land surrounding is improving significantly and is providing many commercial opportunities to owners and developers of the land.
Due to increase in the agricultural production Pakistan is observing a significant agricultural growth with cooperation of China and sharing modern technology and strategies along with our feasible weather conditions.
CPEC is also promoting foreign investment in Pakistan, which will ultimately show increase in our economic growth rate.
Another major advantage is increase in the trade from which revenue will be generated by transiting goods to and from other countries.
CPEC has created employment opportunities for the local people to an extent of about two to three million which will contribute towards economic conditions of the Pakistan.
The CPEC is also supporting ideal tourism conditions in Pakistan, facilitating the flourishing of the tourism and hotel industry of Pakistan by providing a safe route and attractive commercial activity around Gawadar city.
Many regional and extra-regional countries are expected to join the CPEC which will improve Pakistan’s international stature.
South Asian countries will also prefer CPEC lead geo-economics over geopolitics. This would also facilitate South Asia’s interconnectivity and its connectivity with China, Central Asia, West Asia and Russia.
CPEC will definitely bring vast strategic and economic advantages to Pakistan and regions surrounding it. Not only will CPEC will be beneficial for the country but the citizen of Pakistan will also be able to bear fruits of its development on individual level.
For the last few months, the work on several CPEC was facing delays due to bureaucratic issues in the Pakistani departments but incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice and directed to resolve all the issues related to the Chinese investors and workers on a priority basis.
The PM believes that investments worth billions of US dollars by China must be acknowledged and implemented for the benefit of both the countries in particular and rest of the region in general.
