Split along CPEC: Federal minister fails to address K-P’s reservations

LG Minister says issues regarding mega project have been politicised

PESHAWAR:

The federal government has failed to address Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s reservations over China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal was unable to satisfy the provincial government.

During a meeting at Governor House in the city on Wednesday, Iqbal briefed government representatives and parliamentary leaders regarding a series of questions raised by the K-P government regarding the $46 billion mega project. The questions had been raised in a letter addressed to the federal minister on December 14. The provincial government’s major concern was the federal government would overlook the western route of CPEC, which passes through K-P.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan and K-P Assembly Opposition Leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman attended the meeting. Parliamentary leaders from various political parties were also present on the occasion.

Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune all political leaders from K-P were on the same page regarding the matter.

After Iqbal gave his briefing, Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan voiced a series of objections. He said the briefing has turned their doubts into reality. According to the LG minister, the issues regarding CPEC were politically motivated.

As per the insider, Iqbal clarified the matter was not politically motivated. On the contrary, the federal minister said CPEC had more to do with the economy than politics.

Iqbal insisted that if the matter is politicised or made needlessly controversial, future generations would not forgive them.

“Awami National Party K-P General Secretary Sardar Hussain Babak criticised the briefing,” the insider said. “He told Iqbal that he was only referring to the future generations of other provinces. Babak said if representatives of the K-P government did not raise this issue, the future generation of the province would not forgive them.”

According to the insider, the governor served as an intermediary in the meeting. On his request, a four-member committee, comprising K-P assembly speaker, K-P opposition leader, LG minister and K-P Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan was constituted. The committee would address all reservations and misunderstandings the K-P government has over CPEC.

Special Assistant to Chief Minister Mushtaq Ghani termed the meeting unsatisfactory. Speaking at a news conference, he said the federal government was simply deceiving them and not providing concrete answers.

“However, we will not step back from our demands,” he said

During a separate press conference, Iqbal said, “The federal government is still committed to what was agreed during the all-parties conference (APC) in May.” Iqbal said the K-P government has a false impression of the project.

Youth development

Later in the day, Iqbal visited Institute of Management Sciences (IMSciences), Peshawar to discuss the planning commission and Youth Development Corps (YDC) projects.

In his welcome address, IMSciences Director Dr Muhammad Mohsin Khan briefed the federal minister about the aims and objectives of the institutions. He expressed his gratitude to the minister and lauded the government’s efforts to make IMSciences one of the leading higher education institutes in the country.

Iqbal said he was honoured to include IMSciences in the YDC projects in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

He emphasised the importance of management education in reshaping the socio-political and economic paradigm of the country.

“This coincides with the incumbent government’s vision for progress and prosperity,” he said.

The federal minister paid rich tributes to the founding members of IMSciences.

“The institute has played a pivotal role in imparting quality management education in K-P, he said.

Iqbal also shed light on the initiatives taken by the federal government in reviving the national economy on modern lines.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2016.