CPEC’s first phase to be completed by 2018: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: Minister Planning Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal said on Saturday the first phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would be completed by the year 2018. 

The minister, in a statement, said the production of 10,000 megawatts of energy under CPEC would help overcome the energy crisis by 2018 as well as upgrade the existing road network of the country.

Especially, western route through the construction of missing links on it would provide the safest and shortest passage of cargo from Gwadar seaport to upcountry for their onward movement to China’s western provinces.

Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan and China were working closely and wholeheartedly to implement the CPEC projects in the speediest manner.

Both sides, he said, were in constant touch through forums under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor framework and were moving ahead smoothly and promptly to complete the projects.

The minister said both sides realised the importance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor for their own interests and for the benefit of whole region to integrate it economically for social and economic uplift of three billion people of the region.

Ahsan Iqbal said there was unanimity in file and ranks of Pakistani society that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was a historical opportunity for sustained economic development and inclusive prosperity of the country and, “we must capitalise on it through a united approach.”

He said Pakistan’s political leadership civilian government and military leadership time and again demonstrated their commitment to the completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

They are all on the same page for a bigger national cause, Ahsan Iqbal said.

He added that declarations of two all parties conferences on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor bore testimony to that fact.