CPEC to usher in era of prosperity, says CM

Communist Party of China assistant minister calls on Shahbaz Sharif

LAHORE: Completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects will usher in an era of prosperity in the country, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday.

He was talking to Communist Party of China International Section Assistant Minister Li Jun.

“The CPEC is a precious gift of the Chinese government and people for Pakistan. The investment of $46 billion represents the Chinese leadership’s confidence in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,” he said. He said that the ‘one belt, one road’ vision represented the economic future of the region. “The CPEC will not only benefit Pakistan, but the whole region. It is a game-changer for Pakistan. The growing contacts between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Communist Party of China are bringing the people of the two countries closer,” he said.

He said that terrorists were the common enemy of all nations. “Terrorism and extremism are a big hurdle in the way of setting up a peaceful society,” he said.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the Orange Line Metro Train project was another gift of the Chinese government for the Pakistani people. “Construction is taking place speedily on metro train project,” he said.

Li Jun said that China attached high importance to its friendship and relations with Pakistan and both the countries had similar views on different issues. “The relations between Communist Party of China and PML-N are getting stronger,” he said. “Exchange of delegations of youth parliamentarians will further promote Pak-China friendship,” he said.

Chinese Consul General Yu Boren, Ministers Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Zakia Shahnawaz and Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan were present.

Balochistan delegation

A parliamentary delegation from Balochistan, led by Senator Usman Khan Kakar, met the chief minister on Monday.

The chief minister said that there was a need for collective efforts for the progress and prosperity of the country. “The Punjab government has included students of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir in its educational programmes and fixed special quotas for them,” he said. The chief minister said that participation of all units in projects such as Punjab Educational Fund, Daanish Schools, laptops scheme, study tours to foreign countries and awarding of cash prizes to position holders had promoted national unity.

“The federal government is taking solid measures for the progress of Balochistan. The Punjab government gave Rs11 billion from its annual share under the National Finance Commission Award to Balochistan,” he said.

The chief minister said that there was a need for adopting a collective approach to deal with national challenges. “All resources will be utilised for the prosperity of the people of Balochistan. A special quota has been fixed for students of Balochistan in educational institutions of the Punjab. The Punjab government has provided funds for setting up a cardiac hospital in Quetta,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2016.