Iqbal says Orange Line not part of CPEC

Punjab govt funded the project through its own budget.


APP March 15, 2016

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that the Orange Line Train Project was not part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.

“The Punjab government has been working on this project for the last four years in an effort to provide a robust transport facility,” said Iqbal.

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He made these remarks while briefing a Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms held in the Parliament House here. Iqbal added that the federal government had not allocated any fund for the project and the province alone has foot the bill.

Terming the CPEC as a project of national importance, he said that think tanks in Europe and USA term Pakistan promising. “It is our collective responsibility to make this mega project a success story,” he added.

Iqbal said that countries like, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam were attracting foreign direct investment amounting to billions of dollars. After the success of $46 billion CPEC project, Pakistan would also be able to attract more investment from other countries, he added.

Regarding investment in the energy and transport infrastructure, Iqbal said that Chinese private companies would set up energy projects in accordance with the energy policy of Pakistan.

“The first section of the western route of CPEC from Gwadar to Quetta will be completed by December this year.”

Orange Line blues: ‘Govt must ensure safety of heritage sites’

Briefing the Committee, CPEC Chairman Major Gen. Zahir Shah informed that a railway track, oil pipeline, optic fiber and road infrastructure would be built between China and Pakistan under CPEC for the economic growth of both countries. 


Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2016.

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COMMENTS (2)

A J Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Orange Line is not part of #CPEC but Government High School Kohat KPK is. Have a heart Punjabi Nationalists.
sheraz | 8 years ago | Reply Confusion! Confusion! Confusion.
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