CPEC seminar: KP government vows to facilitate Chinese investors

PESHAWAR: The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday reiterated its commitment to providing all possible facilities to Chinese investors and stated that if they wished to invest in any city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they would not only be provided with all possible facilities, but also a special security unit would ensure their protection.

These views were expressed by Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information; Muzammil Aslam, Advisor on Finance; and Abdul Karim Khan, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Industries, on the concluding day of the CPEC seminar.

Barrister Saif said CPEC was a joint project for economic development and prosperity between Pakistan and China. “China will build a high-level connectivity network to deepen development integration, strengthen industrial and supply chain cooperation, maintain regional stability, cooperate with law enforcement and security institutions, address various risks and challenges, promote people-to-people connections and exchanges,” he said, adding these measures would strengthen Pakistan-China relations.

Abdul Karim Khan stated that CPEC was a game-changer not only for Pakistan but for the entire region. “The project offers countless opportunities in infrastructure, energy, industry, and mutual trade,” he added.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, due to its geographical significance, resources, and human capital, could play a key role in the second phase of CPEC, adding the province was fully prepared to reap the benefits of this project.

Abdul Karim Khan said the government was taking strong steps to establish industrial zones, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and create a favorable environment for investors. He invited the Chinese investors to come to KP, invest in the local industry, employ youth, and put the region on a new path to progress.

Muzammil Aslam said it was commendable that China wished to make high-quality Belt and Road cooperation a foundational platform in neighboring countries. “As a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC has brought Pakistan $25.4 billion in direct investment, 236,000 jobs, 510 kilometres of highways, over 8,000 megawatts of electricity, and 886 kilometers of core transmission lines,” he pointed out.

Muzammil Aslam added that while much has been written, read, and said about Pakistan-China friendship, it is now time to move beyond that and focus on economic development in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with Chinese cooperation, so that people can gain employment and embark on a new journey toward prosperity.