Some politicians and intellectuals are doing enmity with CPEC: Mian Zahid Hussain

Lahore: Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday said Pakistan does not need enemies to damage China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). We are not short of politicians and intellectuals etc. who has played central role in damaging mega projects in past to keep country destabilised and to please enemies, he said.

In a statement issued here today, he said that unending disputes over economic corridor and slow pace of work has disappointed Chinese leadership which has resulted in transfer of only 576 million dollar from China for the project in first eight months against estimated 3.1 billion dollars.

He said that signing document of CPEC, the game changer project, is not enough as rest of the work should be completed as agreed with the Chinese friends. Lack of seriousness, disputes with provinces and red tape has reportedly delayed financing agreements of different projects under CPEC which has resulted in hefty cut, he noted.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that situation is not only frustrating Chinese but other foreign investors who are keenly watching all the developments which can hit the project as well as image of Pakistan. Chinese economy is slowing down while Pakistan’s economy has started taking off slowly but the latest political and security incidents have shaken everything, he said, adding that Pakistan cannot afford delay in completion of CPEC as it will increase cost and compromise our bargaining position.

He lauded the Pak Army for raising special force to safeguard project and demanded that the number of personnel should be reviewed according to the situation.