I’ll quit if change in corridor route proved: Ahsan Iqbal

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and National Reforms Ahsan Iqbal has said that if it is proved that the route of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been altered an inch, he will quit politics.
Addressing a pre-budget seminar here on Sunday, he said the perception and image of Pakistan at the world level is being positively improved due the great Pak-China economic partnership.
He said that Pakistan has got a golden opportunity to develop its economy through the CPEC and we will have to avail this chance. He said that after the completion of this project, Pakistan will be included among the rising economies. He said that as compared to the economic situation in 2013, the country’s economy has now recovered considerably due to successful government policies. And this economic turnaround has been given positive recognition by all the world financial institutions, banks and journals.
Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan had also got the opportunity to prosper in the 1960s and at the start of the 1990s but we lost those chances of becoming an economic tiger due to political destabilisation.
He said that the last year’s sit-in and protests had harmed the economic growth of the country but now the situation had recovered.He said that internal stability and a better law and order situation are prerequisites for the economic development and prosperity of any country and these will improve foreign investment in various sectors of Pakistan as well.
He said the government has failed to understand why certain national parties are against the CPEC. He lashed out at the political parties as they are creating fear among Chinese investors by their dissatisfaction over the CPEC route.
“Internal stability and a better law and order situation are prerequisites for economic development and these will improve foreign investment in various sectors of Pakistan,” he stated.
He said the agreement with Chinese delegation was signed in 2013 and if there is anyone who can provide any documentation with respect to this MoU signed before 2013, he should unveil it.
He pronounced that various development plans would also be initiated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa whereas Thar Coal project would bring prosperity to the Sindh province.Ahsan Iqbal reiterated that the solution to the internal matters is a key to international investment; however, the $46 billion Chinese investment would prove to be a milestone in economic welfare. He vowed that the world will witness a new Pakistan in 2015.
He further urged the prominent leaders to help in eliminating all the problems and advised them to be united in war against terrorism.Moreover, Ahsan Iqbal termed the unity of stakeholders important to stand at best rank in global market.