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Thursday March 28, 2024

MPs body on CPEC approves rules of business

Committee satisfied with Ahsan Iqbal’s briefing on project’s progress

By our correspondents
October 09, 2015
ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in its maiden formal meeting presided over by its Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed approved the rules of procedure of the CPEC committee as well as the proposed work plan which included briefings, site visits and other activities for the next 6 months.
The chairman welcomed all the members as well as Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal and said that the committee would work above the party and provincial lines to promote national objective of building the CPEC with consultation and consensus. He said that the committee was a product of the meeting of May 28 All Parties Conference (APC) held at the PM House and in that meeting.
He said that the western route would be given top priority because the CPEC had to be a corridor of national unity bringing peace and prosperity to all provinces particularly the less developed areas of KP and Balochistan.
In his briefing, the Ahsan Iqbal, who is also the Focal Person on CPEC from the Pakistani side, said that work had already begun on the Western route of the CPEC and he said that the area from Gwadar to Sorab which would link Gwadar with Quetta and which involves new construction of 650 km of roads. They are already being constructed and it would be completed by December 2016. “The rest of the Western route which will link Gwadar with Kashgar, China, through Balochistan and KP is 2518 km long and construction of the Western route is already underway in accordance with the decision of the APC held on May 28 this year,” he added.
He also focused on projects under the CPEC pertaining to transport and infrastructure, Gwadar Port, energy and the proposed industrial parks and new economic zones.
The members present expressed satisfaction over the briefing of the minister, particularly the commitment of the government to build the Western route in accordance with the decision at the All Parties Conference.
Senator Mushahid said that the Committee would take decisions in consultation with its members and in this regard, he said that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on Monday, October 26 at the Parliament House where the Chairman, NHA would give a comprehensive briefing on the infrastructure projects of the CPEC.
Senator Mushahid Hussain also announced that the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC would visit sites of the CPEC in November including Gwadar and the Western route of the CPEC.
The meeting ended with mutual vote of thanks and the Chairman, Senator Mushahid Hussain particularly thanked the Secretary of the National Assembly Mohammad Riaz and Additional Secretary Qamar Suhail Lodhi for their proactive cooperation and efficient facilitation of the meeting.