Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday that projects worth $30 billion have been implemented under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Addressing academics from Peking University in China prior to 6th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), scheduled on December 29, the minister said that CPEC was the biggest project under China’s One-Belt One-Road initiative that would unite the entire region.
He said with the addition of new projects in the 6th JCC, investment in CPEC would further increase. He said that CPEC related industrial cooperation would kick-start an economic revolution in Pakistan while the economic zones would generate investment and employment opportunities for the country.
He said that eight industrial zones would be set up in all provinces of the country adding that there was recommendation of 2 zones within Balochistan, including Gwadar free zone.
For the security of Chinese companies working on CPEC, a new security force has been formed, he added.
He said China and Pakistan together would defeat all anti-CPEC forces adding that participation of high level officials from the provinces in JCC was the symbol of national unity and commitment.
The involvement of provinces in JCC with full spirit would help complete the CPEC projects on fast pace, he added. He said education, agriculture and tourism sectors would eventually grow in long-term programmes.
The minister said that China and Pakistan universities should work together to promote education and added people-to-people contacts would also be developed through CPEC. He said that various projects of cooperation between Pakistan and China media industry were also under consideration.
