CPEC to change fate of the region: Nawaz

PM says the best tribute to Quaid is to make Pakistan a developed state

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday voiced confidence that once ready the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects would turn around the economic outlook of the whole region.

His remarks came a day after Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, Zheng Xiaosong, stressed that political consensus is essential for fully exploiting the potential of the economic corridor.



“The law and order situation in the country is much improved and the backbone of extremist elements has been broken. The government is striving day and night to eliminate load-shedding, one of the biggest hurdles to economic growth. And completion of CPEC projects will turn around the economic outlook of the whole region,” the PM said in his message on the 68th death anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Zheng, while talking with a visiting delegation of the PPP in Beijing, said: “Political consensus coupled with unanimity in approach is essential to draw the maximum benefits from this mega project which is a game-changer for the region.”



He dispelled the impression that the CPEC would solely benefit China and Pakistan. “More than 50 countries would reap the benefit of this great $46 billion project.”

These comments are significant because it came just days after Indian PM Narendra Modi had accused Pakistan of fomenting terrorism in South Asia while speaking at the just concluded G-20 summit in China. “The best way of paying tribute to the father of the nation is to sincerely strive for making Pakistan a peaceful, moderate, welfare and a developed Islamic state in accordance with his vision,” the PM said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2016.