CM Khattak urges govt to make western route part of CPEC, reminds PM of his promise

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said Thursday if the western route is not part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) it will be a violation of the prime minister’s earlier commitment that consented to the APC for making the western route a part of the CPEC.

Talking to media men after addressing two receptions during his day-long visit to Nowshera today, the chief minister asked the federal government to sit with the Chinese government and make the western route a part of the CPEC.

He added that that under the CPEC, all provinces would get an equal number of projects, adding that the western route was of strategic importance to the provinces of KP and Balochistan.

The chief minister said if the promise was not kept, his government would agitate against it. He said that the prime minister should convene an APC and convince them; otherwise, his government would convene an APC and form the future course of action.

The CM said that the federal government approved a link of motorway from Jhand to Kohat, an expressway, and a rail track from Peshawar to DI Khan. The federal government should make a candid decision in this regard, he said and added that these were the projects for which he struggled and approved them and these were of prime importance in the backdrop of CPEC.

The failure of the federal government to provide resources for these projects would kill the objectives behind the CPEC, he said.

He said his government was the custodian of the interest of the province and therefore he would not rest till the fulfilment of the objectives behind the CPEC.

The CM said that the Raiwind rally would prove to be a referendum against the ruling elite. Prime Minister Nawaz sharif was accountable to the nation; if he is not corrupt he must prove it, adding that Imran Khan would continue to expose the corrupt.

He said the aim behind the Ehtesab rally was to get rid of the corrupt rulers. PTI would demonstrate its street power against all wrong doings and corruption in the country, he added.

He said that rallies from Malakand and western districts were taken out today and the rally from Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi and Hazara division would reach tomorrow. Khattak said the border management has eased out the situation in his province and added that Pakistan and Afghanistan both wanted the peaceful return of Afghan refugees to contribute to the reconstruction of their country.