Govt urged to start work on CPEC western route

PESHAWAR: Mustaqbil Pakistan Partysenior vice-presidentRoshan Khattak has asked the federal government to start work on the western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on a priority basis.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, he also called for establishment of industrial zones and other uplift projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so that poverty and unemployment could be controlled.

Flanked by provincial leaders and activists of the party, he said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was faced with terrorism since long. He said the investors shifted their businesses to other provinces due to poor law and order situation in the province.

Roshan Khattak said the federal government should give due importance to the western route of the multi-billion CPEC project and construct economic opportunity zones in different parts of the militancy-hit province. The CPEC was game-changer for the province and that it was an issue of life and death for the people of KP, he added.

“We will not allow anyone to usurp the rights of this province,” he vowed.Roshan Khattak said the western route of CPEC was the shortest and more feasible way that would connect the country with the Central Asian Republics, which could boost trade with the regional states.