$18 bn CPEC projects have hit the ground, says minister

ISLAMABAD: Under the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, work on $18 billion projects has been started while the remaining projects are in pipeline, said Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal.

“This is a record in our development history of translating MOUs into action,” he said. Talking to the Press Officers appointed for different countries, he emphasized promotion of positive image of the country by having clear tangible goals.

“Brand Pakistan is all about showing positive image of our country to the world. We need to highlight the strengths of our country as we need to create positive narrative of the country,” he said.

The minister told the press officers that CPEC was not just road network rather it was the framework of cooperation, which consisted of energy, infrastructure, gwadar and industrial zones.  ''It is not bilateral but a regional project. It would benefit three billion people of region. CPEC Project is the fusion of Pakistan Vision 2025 and China One Belt One Road Vision and it is not a security project but an economic project'' , he added.