Most of projects in Pak-China Corridor under private sector: minister

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal says most of the projects linked to Pakistan China Economic Corridor are under private sector.

The minister while briefing the participants of all parties’ conference said injustice would not be done to any province in energy projects.

Clarifying the misconceptions about the project, he said it was not confined to a single physical route rather it was a concept that included roads airports ports energy and development projects.

He said the US 46 billion Chinese investment was not meant to be distributed as it relates to several energy road and rail projects all over the country.

The minister also gave a breakdown of various projects and clarified that the Orange Line in Lahore
was not part of CPEC.

He said no new road was being constructed as part of the route rather existing road network was being improved and interconnectivity increased so that the entire country benefited.

He said roads along three major alignments would be upgraded for improved North South connectivity.

Ahsan Iqbal said a working group comprising representatives of the provinces would study the feasibility of setting up viable economic zones along the Western Eastern and Central routes.

He invited the representatives of political parties for their input and suggestions in this regard.

He said the projects along the western alignment would be completed by 2016.