Orange Line Train Project not part of CPEC: Ahsan Iqbal

Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Prof Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday said that Orange Line Train Project, Lahore, was not part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.

The Punjab government was working on this project for the last four years in an effort to provide a robust transport facility to people. The minister made these remarks while briefing Senate standing committee on planning, development and reforms held in the Parliament House on Tuesday.

Committee Chairman Senator Col (r) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi chaired the meeting. He informed that the federal government had not allocated any fund for the Orange Line Train while the Punjab provincial government was completing this vital project from its own budget and resources. Terming the CPEC as project of national importance, he said think tanks in Europe and the USA now had started viewing Pakistan in a very positive perspective due to this project.

“It is our collective responsibility to make this mega project a success story,” he added. Ahsan Iqbal said that countries like Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam were attracting foreign direct investment amounting to billions of dollars.

After the success of US$ 46 billion CPEC project, Pakistan would be able to attract more investment from other countries, he added. He said there was complete consensus on CPEC as it was beneficial for Pakistan. About investment in the energy and transport infrastructure, he said Chinese private companies would set up energy projects in accordance with energy policy of Pakistan government.

He said first section of Wester Route of CPEC from Gwadar to Quetta would be completed by December this year.

The minister said that FATA University, Zhob University and Gwadar University would be opened this year on the western route of CPEC. Briefing the committee, chairman, Maj Gen Zahir Shah informed that a railway track, oil pipeline, optic fiber and road infrastructure would be built between China and Pakistan under CPEC for the economic growth of both the countries.

He said that early harvest energy and transport infrastructure projects would also be completed under the CPEC initiative to boost their economy. The member water and WAPDA also updated the member about the progress of work on Kachhi Canal Project, DG Khan.

He said in the first phase Kachhi Canal had been completed up to Dera Bugti. Upon completion, the canal would irrigate more than 8,00,000 acres of land and would prove game changer for Balochistan, he added.