–After Saudi Arabia, other nations set to join CPEC as investment partners, says Fawad
–Says China had agreed to Pakistani proposal for inclusion of third party in CPEC
–Says Ishaq Dar to become first catch under Pak, British MoU
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday said that although Pakistan did not take China on board regarding Saudi Arabia’s inclusion in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the matter was raised with China and the Chinese leadership had agreed to it.
Commenting over a story published by Pakistan Today during a session with a select group of senior anchorpersons and editors in Islamabad, he said that Pakistan had taken China on board for the inclusion of third parties in CPEC at various levels. CPEC is going to be made open for investments and after Saudi Arabia, other countries are set to join the game-changing project, he added.
“We had discussed the matter of third party inclusion with the visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. We had also discussed it with Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing,” the minister said, adding that Saudi Arabia and other new partners would not be a part of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) mechanism and China and Pakistan would remain principle partners of JCC framework.
He also refuted media speculation that Saudi Arabia would not be a part of CPEC and rather said in categorical terms that Saudi Arabia had decided to join CPEC as an investment partner.
“Even the Saudi delegation is still in Balochistan,” he asserted.
Pakistan Today had reported on Tuesday that China feels ‘perturbed’ and ‘overlooked’ as the PTI government is unilaterally finalising modalities for the inclusion of another strategic partner, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), in the multi-billion-dollar project, CPEC. The report said that Pakistan did not consult China before including Saudi Arab despite China’s assurances of being open to changes in CPEC.
DAR TO BECOME FIRST CATCH UNDER PAK-BRITAIN MOU:
Fawad Chaudhry also claimed that under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and United Kingdom, fugitive Ishaq Dar would become the first catch as cooperation between the two countries for handover of criminals was expanding.
When asked why Britain is not handing over Pakistanis wanted in various crimes whereas Pakistan had handed over accused Shah Mohammad to them, he said, “UK is set to handover many fugitives wanted by Pakistan. I hope Dar would be the first catch. Others would also be following him. This relationship works both ways.”
Responding to a question about the fate of dozens of envoys appointed by the former regime on political basis in key missions abroad, the information minister said that soon the politically motivated appointments would be recalled.
When asked whether Ali Jahangir Siddiqui and former information minister Tariq Azeem would also be recalled and relieved of their appointments, the minister said that all such appointees would be recalled soon.
Talking about the registration of foreign NGOs in Pakistan, the information minister said that only 29 INGOs had been banned in Pakistan but others were allowed to function.
