National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
Monday said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor would not only
serve as a “game-changer” for Pakistan, but also for entire region
by helping it rid of deprivation and bringing peace and prosperity.
Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC) Summit and Expo here to enhance awareness
about the ambitious project, the Prime Minister termed it a “new
concept in diplomacy” and said it would help in elimination of
poverty and unemployment.
Prime Minister Sharif said CPEC was not merely a strategic
agreement, but culmination of a decade-long friendship between
Pakistan and China. He said it was an advanced stage of relationship
in the history of cooperation and collaboration between the two
countries on issues of global importance.
The Prime Minister said the two sides never left each other in
times of distress and recalled Chinese assistance to Pakistan
following the devastating earthquake in 2005 and floods in 2010.
He said during his visit to Pakistan, President Xi Jinping
told the parliament that Pakistan stood by China when it was
isolated. He said now China has reached out to the country when
Pakistan stood economically isolated.
He termed the relationship between he two countries as “very
special” and said the two countries have always supported each other
at international fora and was based on basis of trust and honesty.
He termed CPEC most important initiative of 21st century and
said it perfectly compliments Pakistan’s vision 2025.
Sharif said Pakistan was an emerging economy and was rich in
natural resources. He mentioned the highest GDP in last eight years,
with best performing stock market, doubling of the foreign exchange
reserves, improvement of security environment.
He said the economic value of the project was US 46 billion
dollars, however added that the real impact was many times more and
would have a longer lasting effect.
He said the project would not only improve Pakistan’s own
infrastructure but would also provide it the much needed know how,
knowledge and expertise in new technologies.
He said US 35 billion dollars would be invested in energy
sectors alone to produce 10400 MW of electricity. He said it would
help the growth of Pakistan’s economy.
The Prime Minister said the project would benefit all regions
of Pakistan and equally benefit Gilgit Baltistan, remote areas of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan.
He described development of Gwadar as the “jewel project” of
the entire CPEC, with its own power generation, road, rail and air
links and would serve as a model smart port city.
The event was attended by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal,
Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Chairman
Parliamentary Committee on CPEC Mushahidullah Khan, Chinese
ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong and leading industrialists,
ambassadors, businessmen.
The Summit held here at the Pakistan China Friendship Centre
was hosted by Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform and marks
the inking of historic US$ 46 billion CPEC programme.
The Prime Minisiter earlier inagurated the expo.