IRD to hold international conference on CPEC

Experts to present papers on narratives surrounding Pak-China mega project

ISLAMABAD:

The Iqbal International Institute for Research and Dialogue (IRD), an autonomous affiliate of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) is organising a two-day international conference on "Pak-China Economic Corridor and Formation of Different Narratives" at Quaid-e-Azam Auditorium, Faisal Masjid Campus.

The conference will be attended by eminent national and international experts of economics, sociology and mass media. In different sessions of the conference, these experts will discuss various aspects of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor's (CPEC) regional and global impact.

Explaining the aims and objectives of the conference, IRD Executive Director Dr Hassan Al-Amin said that CPEC is an important project aimed at extending the western part of China to the southern Arabian Sea.

Read China asked to remove CPEC snags

Many sub-projects of energy, infrastructure, railways and other industries are being implemented and CPEC has entered into its second phase, he added.

Dr Hassan said that there were many narratives circulating about CPEC in Pakistan, in the region and globally including China; Pakistan's official narrative, political narrative, narrative of less developed regions and the narrative of socio-economic experts.

The official shared that for the organisation of the conference, the IRD requested articles last year, in response to which economists from all over the world – teachers and researchers of national and international universities – submitted research papers.

The articles were thoroughly reviewed and selected experts were invited to present their papers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2021.