was not confined to a specific route rather it was a concept that encompassed all the areas of the country. He said most of the power projects under the corridor would be established in Sindh. He said the project would attract more tourists to Gilgit-Baltistan.
Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique also briefed the meeting on the plan of connecting Gwadar to Kashghar through a rail network.Prime Minister Nawaz and the participants agreed to the proposal without any debate.
As the meeting concluded, PM Nawaz Sharif announced that the western route of the economic corridor would get priority and it would be constructed first, for which funds would be released soon. He said under this project, Hassan Abdal, Mianwali, Dera Ismail Khan, Zhob, Quetta, Kalat, Nag, Bisma, Panjgur and Turbat will be connected to Gwadar. He said work would be started immediately on the Mughal Kot-Dera Ismail Khan section.
He assured the parliamentary leaders that all matters regarding the CPEC project will be kept transparent. At the outset, the PM announced that political leaders reserved the right to bring their reservations forward if any and the same would be addressed in the true national spirit. He said unity on the project would send a positive message to China, showing that Pakistan as a nation is committed to the project.
Developments pertaining to the CPEC project would move forward in a transparent manner, he added. Parliamentary leaders of all the political parties extended complete support and practical cooperation to the government for the CPEC project.The PM said a working group had also been set up to address grievances of the provinces. He said the resources would be allocated for the project in the next fiscal year.
Nawaz Sharif, in the beginning of the conference, felicitated Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah for the early arrest of terrorists who had perpetrated the Safoora Goth incident in Karachi. The CM thanked the PM for his sentiments.
The APC was summoned to take the political leadership into confidence over the route of the CPEC. The project will oversee the construction of three alignments from Gwadar to Kashghar as well as the establishment of energy projects and industrial zones all over the country.
Addressing the first session of the APC, PM Nawaz Sharif said the mega project would prove to be a milestone for Pakistan. He said the investment pouring in from China was unprecedented in the history of Pakistan and credit for this goes to all the political parties.