Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said he was personally overseeing the progress of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project which had the potential to change the lives of millions of people living in the region.
The prime minister expressed these views in a meeting with a delegation led by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the chairman of Warid Telecom International and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Group, Union National Bank and United Bank Limited at his Raiwind residence.
The prime minister said the $46 billion project would connect the entire region through construction of quality road network and railway tracks. He said his government had made choices to put the country on track to attain durable peace, sustainable economic growth and massive infrastructure development.
Sharif mentioned that the Karachi operation was carried out in consultation with all stakeholders which helped a great deal in restoration of peace in the mega city. The PM also expressed his satisfaction over the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb to wipe out terrorists from the country.
He said the government had ensured uninterrupted power supply to the industrial sector and vowed to overcome energy shortage in the country by 2018.
Sharif further said the transparent agreements for liquified natural gas (LNG) would help overcome gas shortage by next year. He recalled that he had made Islamabad-Lahore motorway in the 1990s and at present, 13 more motorways were under construction with an investment of Rs 900 billion which would cross Rs 1 trillion by year-end.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan extended his heartfelt congratulations on the successful surgery and consequent recovery of PM Sharif.
Appreciating the leadership role of Sharif, Nahyan said Pakistan had shown tremendous improvement in almost all sectors of the economy over the last three years. He said Pakistan was fast becoming an ideal destination for foreign investors owing to the transparent, fair and incentives based investment policies of the government.
“Your leadership has enabled Pakistan to witness rapid economic growth and attract foreign investment. You have greatly helped your country in achieving its true image worldwide”, Sheikh Nahyan said.
Other delegates included chief executive officers (CEOs) of Vimpel, Mobilink, Alfalah Bank and members Abu Dhabi Group board of directors.
