KARACHI: Speakers at a seminar on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have emphasised that Afghanistan and other neighbouring countries can also benefit from this multi-billion dollar project.
They expressed that Pakistan would become twenty-fifth world economy in the next 15 to 20 years owing to the CPEC. Gwadar Port is a gateway to the CPEC and it would become a global distribution centre, they added.
The seminar titled ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – Rhythm of Progress’ was organised by Sahafi Welfare Association Karachi the other day.
Speaking at the seminar, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Zubair F Tufail said that China has become a world economic power and Pakistan will benefit from around $60 billion CPEC projects.
The FPCCI president said that the first special economic zone in Sindh is being set up in Dhabeji, which would be completed by 2019, which would create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
He said that the game-changer CPEC would also hugely benefit the people of Balochistan.
Zubair was of the view that Pakistanis should learn the Chinese language to grab opportunities.
He hoped that shortage of electricity in the country would end by the end of 2018 due to the CPEC.
“Today, the fastest train runs only in China and it has also sold the same (China-made) train to the United States of America,” he added.
Marine Group Director Asim A Siddiqui said that the CPEC would definitely open up new markets for China whereas it rests with Pakistan how much it benefits from this multi-billion project.
He said that about $11 billion would be spent on roads and infrastructure in Pakistan through the CPEC and added that nine free zones would be set up in the country under the project.
Security expert Colonel (retd) Ali Raza Mir, speaking on the occasion, said that China’s military and economic assistance would help Pakistan. He said that India is opposing the CPEC through a planned propaganda. He was of the view that neighbours should be included in the economic project.
