A meeting of Senate’s special committee on the project of China-Pak Economic Corridor took place in Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Taj Haider. The committee asked questions about different sections of agreed routes, specification of these sections compared with specific section being built on the eastern route and completion of agreed route along with railways routes.
Senators expressed their reservations on the CPEC project and told the committee that government was hiding some project details from the committee and public.
Senator Siraj-ul-Haq expressed his observations and and said: “We need a joint committee along with four chief ministers to understand the consequences and issues of the CPEC. All MOU’s and JCC (joint coordination committee) minutes should be submitted to the Senate and the National Assembly so that all misunderstandings and conflicts are eliminated. All the four provinces chief ministers including representatives from Gilgit-Baltistan must be a part of the joint committee for removing their reservations.”
Senator Farhat-ullah-Babar also expressed his views and said that the joint coordination committee was created on August 13, 2013. Under the chair of prime minster, the All Parties Conference had accepted suggestions of all parties and it was duty of the JCC to follow and implement all the work which was proposed in the APC, he added. Senators were of the view that all MoU’s have to be put infront of the committee. Senator Ateeq Shaikh asked the P&D secretary that who was dealing with all these projects and information about loans and interest rate. He also asked whether the Chinese government would give them tax after the completion of CPEC. In response to the questions, the secretary P&D said it was duty of the water and power and the finance ministry to share this information. The committee directed both the ministries to attend next meeting of the special committee.
Members of the Senate’s committee said that it was the 5th meeting of committee and it was a general thought that lack of communication, ignorance and lack of knowledge was pulling this important project backwards and that the government was also giving irresponsible feedback. “It is now necessary to call a meeting with the prime minster to discuss the ongoing issues in which NHA, P&D and other concerned ministries must be invited,” they opined.
The Balochistan minster for education said there was no development on the CPEC project in their province. As many as 78 projects were related to Balochistan but unfortunately there was no development in this regard, he added. He said the provincial government was ready to help the federal government which was delaying the project. The senators said that Balochistan was facing huge water crisis as people were stealing water from different homes. In response to the senators views and suggestions, the convener of the special committee, Senator Taj Haider, said: “We are going to make a report on the issue and we will put our report in the House soon.”
The members also asked that whether the P&D formulated mechanism and industrial policy regarding Chinese import of crude oil via CPEC routes. The senators also suggested that an oil refinery should be built in Balochistan. In response to this, the secretary said it was a fine observation and they would take up this matter with the ministry.
The ministry of railways secretary also briefed special committee on its projects M1, M2 and M-3 through which Gawadar would be connected to Havelian in KPK province. The ministry said that railway routes had to be upgraded and it would help in connectivity for trade between China and Pakistan. In response to the all briefings, the convener of the special committee said the committee would keenly watch these projects and would remain in contact with the ministries.
The meeting was attended by Senator Kamil Aga, Senator Ateeq Shaikh, Senator Muhammad Usman, Senator Mir Israrullah Khan, Senator Jehanzeb Jamaldini, Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak, Senator Siraj-ul-Haq, Senator Farhatullah Babar and Senator Osman Saifullah Khan along with other members of special committee.
Thank God the special parliament committee on CPEC has finally spoken demanding clarity from the government. Most people suspected this government was following different plans to what they were telling the public. The so-called minister of planning and development Ahsan Iqbal have been busy telling lies ever since signing MOUs with chinese and has failed to show any concrete development road map for this project that the country can feel good about. Let us hope the committee will vigorously seek clarifications and demand immediate removal of this minister and demand public money back from him
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