Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reforms Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was really a game-changer, but some foreign powers and people having vested interests were trying to scandalise it.
“Allah Almighty has given us China as a friend to form a strategic partnership with it,” he asserted.
He was addressing the 14th CEO Summit Asia 2017 and the book launch of 100 performing CEOs, leaders and companies of Pakistan, which was held at a local hotel in Lahore on Thursday.
The theme of the event was “Reshaping the Future: Build Greater Pakistan”, which was addressed by Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana, Punjab Finance Minister Ayesha Ghous Pasha.
Ahsan Iqbal, rubbishing rumours and apprising the business community of the facts about CPEC, said that Long-Term Plan (LTP) for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project had been approved by the government and Chinese government would also approve this in coming days.
He said that the government was focusing on infrastructure and energy in the Annual Development programme 2017-18; however, projects of social development would also be launched.
Ahsan said that the motive behind the long-term strategic partnership was to put Pakistan on the path to industrialisation and take agriculture sector towards value-addition.
Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana, terming the CEO’s book a glimpse of the bright future of Pakistan, congratulated the founder and president CEO Club Ijaz Nisar for holding this event.
Hundreds of CEOs, business leaders from Pakistan and around the region participated.