CPEC to prove a catalyst for socio-economic uplift of Pakistan: Shibli Faraz

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Shibli Faraz has said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is a win-win project of China-Pakistan economic cooperation.
Addressing a seminar on CPEC in the federal capital on Wednesday, the information minister said that besides diversifying Chinese supply lines, the CPEC will prove to be a catalyst for socio-economic development of Pakistan.
The minister said that CPEC is a game changer project not only for Pakistan, but also for the entire region, based on the idea of shared development. He said that CPEC is a manifestation of China’s special relationship with Pakistan.
He said under this project, Gwadar is going to become a hub of economic activities with Middle East and North Africa. He said major initiatives of CPEC include construction of road networks, extending from Gwadar Port to Khunjerab Pass, up-gradation of ML-1, power projects of 10,000 megawatts and Gwadar-Nawabshah pipeline to transport gas from Iran.
Shibli Faraz said that CPEC is estimated to generate Rs6 billion to Rs8 billion per annum just in taxes as roads and bridges toll. He said overall, 2.3 million jobs are expected to be created between 2015 and 2030, resulting in more than 2.5 percent annual rise in GDP.
The minister said that CPEC has made remarkable progress in the first phase. He said that the majority of the projects planned in the construction, infrastructure and energy sectors have been carried out successfully and many are in the execution stage.
He said the second stage will further focus on industrialisation, agriculture, modernisation and socio-economic development. Faraz said the projects in the existing and newly established areas will enhance the capacity of Pakistan ultimately improving the economic competitiveness of Pakistan.
He said that it is dispensable to counter the negative propaganda aimed at the success of the projects and bilateral ties. He said the benefits of CPEC will reach the grassroots level and benefit Pakistan’s population.
Addressing the seminar, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhary said that the CPEC has a huge future. He said that Pakistan has become an attractive market for the Chinese investors.
The minister said that under the CPEC, 11 special economic zones are being established which will promote industrialisation in the country. He said, “We plan to uplift our semiconductor industry and bring value addition to our products with the cooperation of Chinese friends.”
The minister said, “We have approached the Chinese companies to shift their solar panel manufacturing units to Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Shibli Faraz has said that the government will pursue the policy of protecting the lives and livelihood of the people to address the second wave of Covid-19 in the country.
The information minister said this while briefing the media after a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Coronavirus, which was chaired by Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser on Wednesday.
He said the parliamentary committee decided to not convene Senate or National Assembly sessions amid the second wave of the pandemic.
He said that the aim of the parliamentary committee meeting was to create consensus in the political leadership on the current pandemic situation in the country. “The opposition, which claims to be the champion of democracy, has proved by boycotting that it does not accept the parliament,” he said, adding that the opposition wants a situation where unemployment and the condition of hospitals in the country deteriorate further.
He regretted that the opposition demonstrated irresponsibility by not attending the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Coronavirus. He said the Covid-19 is a national issue and all the political parties have responsibility to play their role in this regard.
He said there should be no political point-scoring on the issue. The minister said the PDM is following its personal agenda and they have no importance for the health and livelihood of people. – TLTP