ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Tuesday said that the federal government was committed for the uplift of under-developed areas under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.
While chairing a high-level meeting of CPEC in the Planning Commission, he said, the government was ensuring equal opportunities for the development in all the provinces.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw (KPK), Pervaiz Khattak and the senior federal and provincial officials were present. Ahsan Iqbal said that CPEC would bring about economic and industrial improvement and create employment opportunities in KPK.
The minister assured that all the decisions taken in the all Parties Conference on CPEC chaired by the Prime Minister, were being implemented in letter and spirit.
Ahsan Iqbal said, “It was our national responsibility to make the CPEC initiative a success.” He pointed out that some elements wanted to discourage people by spreading apprehensions and false propaganda against the project.
“The western route is being completed on priority basis after the consensus while all the facilities would be ensured on the route,” he added.
The minister said the establishment of industrial and economic zone along the CPEC route through local and Chinese investment would be ensured in the next phase. The negative propaganda could jeopardize this project of national importance, he added.
Ahsan Iqbal said, the CPEC was not just fund of US$ 46 billion but it was a combination of many projects.
