KPK govt should not use CPEC for political gains: Ahsan Iqbal

Lahore : Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, said on Monday that KPK government should not use CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) for its
political mileages.

Talking to media after addressing a two-day business conference and exhibition organized by University of Management and Technology (UMT) here at Expo Center, he said that some political parties wanted
to impose their own will and choice upon the Supreme Court. They were not worried of KPK’s court moves but that provincial government was distorting its own image as well as of Pakistan, he said and asserted that foreign investment could not be attracted through court proceedings.

In a meeting held one and a half months earlier, he mentioned, the KPK Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was quite satisfied with the CPEC project but how he changed all at once?

To a question, Ahsan Iqbal said that people wanted the present government to complete its constitutional tenure and ‘day of accountability’ would be in year 2018 through ballet, and predictions
of political pundits had not proved in the past and would not prove in future as well.

Ahsan Iqbal viewed that only the politics of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf was changed but Pakistan’s interests did not change.

To another question, he said that 620-kilometer Quetta-Gwadar Road had been completed two months earlier from its stipulated time period,and this route would play pivotal role in connecting the entire region including Afghanistan and Central Asia. While on the western route,Dera Ismail Khan to Burhan Motorway would be completed in 2018, and the government would fulfill its promises regarding western route.

Ahsan Iqbal was of the view that gaining political interests on the CPEC was similar to a crime and if anyone had any reservation over the projects, then one must bring it into parliamentary committee
on CPEC. He added that KPK government was making issues over CPEC just to hide its failure of delivering in the province.

To a query, he said that most of the energy projects’ share was of Sindh and Balochistan as both the provinces were enriched with coal and other energy resources.

The Federal Minister said that energy projects under the CPEC being installed in KPK included Rs 112 billion Dasu Dam, Rs 114 billion Diamir-Bhasha Dam, Munda Dam and Kurram Tungi Dam etc. In
addition,he mentioned, KPK projects were also being given preference in the federal budget.

Ahsan Iqbal said the CPEC was most transparent project of Pakistan and was lifeline of the country, adding the CPEC should also be completed with mutual consensus as country’s atomic programme was
completed, and creating row over CPEC was tantamount to hamper foreign investment into Pakistan and he invited KPK Chief Minister to sit together with them and give his suggestions.

He said the CPEC was a greater project of communication that would benefit a vast population of three billion and turn Pakistan into an economic hub of Central Asia. Pakistan was well on way to speedy
economic development and media should play a positive role in this connection, he maintained.

Earlier, Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan Miss Margaret Adamson inaugurated the international conference, where stalls were set up by companies from China, Malaysia, Turkey, Middle East, Europe and UAE.
While, education experts, renowned businessmen, owners of national and multi-national companies from across the globe, and representatives of civil society and media participated in the conference.