CPEC being targeted because of US-China trade war: Fawad Ch

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ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Ahmad Chaudhry has said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is being targeted because of the ongoing US-China trade war.

Talking to a private news channel here on Tuesday, Fawad Ahmad Chaudhry said that during the visit of the Chinese foreign minister, matters related to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) were discussed.

He said that the Western media was doing negative propaganda against CPEC because of the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, which was rejected by the latter.

The Minister Information and Broadcasting said during the visit of the Saudi information minister, both the sides discussed the potential for collaboration in the field of media. It was agreed that the dramas and films produced by the Pakistan Television would be dubbed in the Arabic language to be shown to the people of Saudi Arabia, he added.

Through the medium of films, dramas, and music, the soft image of Pakistan could be promoted abroad, he stated.

To a question, Fawad Chaudhry said Pakistan had a powerful and strong media, which was fully enjoying the freedom of speech. He, however, warned that the government would not tolerate corrupt practices in any department, including media houses.

The Minister Information and Broadcasting said the government was ready to form a regulatory body in consultation with media houses to solve the problems being faced by the media industry. Practical steps were being taken to solve the salary issue of the workers of the electronic media and the Pakistan Broadcasters Association was also on board in that regard, he added.

Responding to question, Fawad Chaudhry said the nation had great expectations from Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was taking long-term decisions to bring political and economic stability in the country.

He said the government was committed to rooting out the menace of corruption and the stolen money stashed abroad would be brought back to the country.

The Minister Information appealed to the overseas Pakistanis to donate in the dams fund so that the country could cope with the water shortage. The PTI had the support of Pakistanis – both at home and abroad, who would generously contribute towards the construction of dams, he added.

To another question, Fawad said a clear message had been sent to India that if it took one step towards peace Pakistan would take two steps. Rising incidents of extremism in India were a matter of big concern, he added.

As regards a meeting on local government bodies, which was chaired by the prime minister Tuesday, he said it was his (prime minister’s) vision to transfer power at the grassroots level to facilitate the masses.

The Information Minister expressed grief over the sad demise of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz. He paid tribute to her for her struggle during the Musharraf era. Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said, had directed the Pakistani High Commission in the United Kingdom to provide all assistance to her bereaved family.