CPEC early harvest projects to be completed at fast pace: Ahsan

Islamabad

Federal Minister for Planning Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal said Monday that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was the top priority of the government and its early harvest projects would be completed at fast pace.

Chairing a high-level fortnightly CPEC review meeting the minister directed the authorities concerned to execute work on the Western passage with full thrust and provide update in each fortnightly meeting.

The minister further directed that the timeline of each project must be specified and pursued for timely completion. He expressed satisfaction over the progress of ongoing CPEC projects and urged for finalising Long Term Plan (LTP) of CPEC at the earliest.

The federal minister directed for speeding up work on all infrastructure projects and also directed that since Gwadar was in focus so some of its projects should hit ground breaking in the month of August with the independence day celebrations. He directed for carrying out the work on Gwadar International Airport and Gwadar seaport projects on fast track basis.

The meeting reviewed the progress on projects in energy, road infrastructure, railway and Gwadar under CPEC framework. The minister directed for maintaining the momentum in the construction work on CPEC projects to ensure their completion in stipulated time frame.

He said that construction work on various projects of different sections of Western route should be completed as per the timelines to operationalise it at the earliest.

While reviewing the energy projects the Ministry of Water and Power appraised that work on Port Qasim Power Plant, Thar Power Plant, HUBCO coal Project, Sahiwal Power Plant and other hydro power projects is on track and these would be completed as per the schedule.

He said fast track work on these projects is necessary to tackle the energy crisis and power needs of industrial zones in future under CPEC.

Ahsan Iqbal said that provincial governments should play proactive role to attract foreign investment in respective provinces as this is not only for the interest of projects but also necessary for the economic growth and development of provinces.