CPEC power projects have helped in overcoming power crises: Information Minister

Islamabad: China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) energy projects have helped in overcoming the power crises to a large extent, Pakistani Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said.

Speaking at a news conference here, the minister maintained that CPEC had been launched in Pakistan several years ago due to which the new generation was getting job opportunities while load shedding problem was overcome by completion of several power projects.

She said all the hurdles in the smooth sail of the CPEC projects had been removed on the orders of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The minister remarked that CPEC was close to the heart of the incumbent government and all the projects will be completed on time.

Following the 11th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting conducted last month and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s most recent trip to China, federal minister for planning and special initiatives Ahsan Iqbal evaluated the status of CPEC projects, with a special focus on power projects.

In accordance with his instructions, officials are to eliminate any obstacles standing in the way of the ML-1 and KCR projects, which were approved at the 11th JCC meeting.

Iqbal instructed the Pakistani Embassy in China to meet with the Chinese side to follow up on the decisions made at the JCC meeting and during the PM’s visit to China.

The Minister also gave the relevant ministries instructions to expedite work on Special Economic Zones in order to gain a piece of the Chinese industry’s relocation to Pakistan with low-cost production.

He instructed staff to work with Chinese authorities to expedite the International Gwadar Airport’s completion. He instructed stakeholders to communicate with their Chinese counterparts, saying that “the Gwadar International Airport should be operational by June 2023.”