Western route now part of CPEC: Khattak

PESHAWAR: The western route is now part of the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and everything is on paper, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervaiz Khattak said on Wednesday.

The chief minister was briefing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and general secretary Jehangir Tareen.

He told both PTI leaders that another alternative CPEC route would start from Gilgit, pass through Shandur and Chitral and terminate at Chakdara and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would soon be signed with Chinese companies.

According to a handout issued by the chief minister’s secretariat, various provincial departments gave presentations to the PTI leaders on projects included in the CPEC.

PTI leaders also received another briefing on Fata reforms. “Fata reforms must be gradually implemented,” Imran Khan said during the briefing. Khattak said that they favoured FATA’s merger with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Khan also favoured introducing local government system in Fata in the first phase. “The Jirga system and tribal traditions must be kept intact and the local government system must be introduced in Fata in the first phase,” Khan said.

“We have to take good decisions for Fata’s better future. We have to move ahead with FATA with a clear vision,” Khan said.

Earlier, Khan said that CPEC’s Western Route would develop tourism and boost industrial development in the region.

“CPEC will usher in an era of economic development and employment creation. This route will (eventually) connect our region with Wakhan (in Afghanistan), Tajikistan and entire Central Asia.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2017.