Minister emphasises regional cooperation

Insists CPEC has nothing to do with IMF loans

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Syed Ali Zafar said on Monday that the first and foremost thing for forging regional cooperation and integration among the states was peace in the region.

Speaking at a seminar on ‘Crossroads at Regional Integration’, Zafar highlighted that Pakistan had never interfered in the internal affairs of any country and therefore, it would not allow anyone to meddle in its own internal affairs.

“Pakistan has the right to make policies to overcome the challenges and raise living standards of its people,” he said.

The minister clarified that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was meant to enhance regional connectivity and accelerate economic progress and it had nothing to do with International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans.

He emphasised that South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) states could become involved in regional economic development by enhancing cooperation.

“Inequality, rising population, water shortage and energy crisis are major challenges that need to be tackled immediately,” he said. “The greatest gift that Pakistan enjoys is its geographic and strategic location and it is destined to play the role of a hub in regional trade,” he said.

Zafar was of the view that Pakistanis, as a nation, were desirous of peace and regional integration that essentially meant economic progress.



There should be a win-win situation for everyone in the process of regional integration as no country could be allowed to override authority and power to bulldoze its agenda in the name of regional integration, he suggested. The minister stressed that regional economic integration might help prevent and resolve conflicts through strengthening economic ties between Asian countries and also help in exchange of knowledge, culture and heritage.



He pointed out that Pakistan’s relations with regional neighbours remained friendly, with a considerable potential for collaboration. Pakistan, he said, enjoyed influence within the wider international community due to its size, strategic location, military strength and economic potential.

“We want to live peacefully and maintain cordial and friendly relations with our immediate neighbours and with the world at large,” he stressed. “We have no aggressive designs against anyone. We stand by the United Nations charter and will make our contribution to peace and prosperity of the world.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2018.

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