CPEC will bring economic resolution: Khurshid

CM laments G-B not connected to national grid

LAHORE:

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid said on Saturday that billions of dollars of Chinese investment under CPEC projects were bringing an “economic revolution” in Pakistan including the mountainous region.

He was talking to reporters during his visit to ‘Challenge Textile Factory’ established with a cost $150 million by the Chinese group here on Lahore-Multan Road.

Khurshid said that CPEC hydropower projects being constructed in G-B were connected to the country’s national grid but unfortunately the mountainous region did not come under the national grid.

“I have talked to Planning Minister Asad Omar about it [addition of G-B in the national grid] and he has assured me of resolving this issue on a priority basis,” the G-B CM said.

He alleged that G-B had not been given its due share from Chinese investments under CPEC by the past governments; however, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government was ensuring the provision of proper share to the people of G-B that was evident from the fact that the incumbent government had increased development funds from mere Rs2 billion to Rs10 billion.

Khurshid added that the recent election of G-B “was the most transparent election in history” and the competition with PML-N was only in two constituencies.

“China’s Challenge Group had committed with G-B government to providing employment immediately to 150 people of Gilgit-Baltistan in this factory and later this number would be increased to 2,000 individuals for whom they were grateful to this group,” he said.

Earlier, briefing G-B CM Khurshid about the Chinese investment, Pakistani businessman Qamar Khan Bobby said that currently, 3,000 individuals were working in the Challenge Group’s textile industrial unit and this number would soon reach up to 5,000.

He added that the Challenge Fashion Export Park was also being set up on the Kasur Road, which would “revolutionise” the textile industry of Pakistan.