No change in Pak-China Economic Corridor routes: Ahsan Iqbal

Says government has spent billions of rupees in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

PESHAWAR: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Monday moved to quell speculation that routes of the Pak-China Economic Corridor had been altered, and dismissed news reports to the contrary as “rumours”.

Speaking to the media after attending a workshop on reforms in Civil Services for achieving the Vision 2025 goals in Peshawar on Monday, Iqbal said the Pak-China Economic Corridor was a “destiny-changer” as it features projects worth billions, which will benefit all the four provinces of the country.

“It is not a name of a road but has many routes, which will connect Gwadar to Khunjerab, and Pakistan will become a bridge between the central Asian countries and China.”

There are certain elements who do not want to see Pakistan becoming a commercial hub and they are spreading such baseless rumours, defended Iqbal.

The planning minister explained they are working on N-85 road which will link Gwadar to Quetta and Qilla Saifullah, adding that there is another route from Gwadar to Ratodero and Sukkur, which will link up with the Indus highway leading to Peshawar.

Talking about the energy crises in the country, Iqbal said they will construct the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, and Rs25 billion had been released for acquiring land.

“We will never let resources hinder the construction of the dam, as it is needed for the existence of Pakistan,” he said adding that they are also working on Dasu dam project on war footing.

Operation in Karachi to restore peace 

The minister argued that the government had economic agenda for which it needed peace and stability.

“The Karachi operation is conducted with mutual consent [of all stakeholders] to restore its peace, which is impartial,” he said, adding that Karachi in 2015 is better than it was in 2013.

Government has spent billions in K-P 

To a question regarding the distribution of Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) funds, Iqbal said the federal government considered all provinces as federating units and had spent billions of rupees in development of universities, including in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.