Dar urges unity among provinces to make CPEC a success

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday called upon all the political parties and provinces to forge unity among their ranks for making the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a success and transforming the country into a strong, vibrant and economically self-reliant state.

The minister was addressing the participants in the concluding session of CPEC Summit and Expo, organised by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms here at the Pak-China Friendship Centre. The minister said the event would go a long way in creating an awareness among the people about the importance of the $46 billion project. He said CPEC would also strengthen the bilateral and economic relations between the two friendly countries.

He said the prudent economic policies, initiated by the PML-N government, had not only stabilised the economy but also restored the confidence of the international community in the economy of the country. “Pakistan of today (2016) is different from that of 2013,” he added.

Pakistan’s economic indicators have improved and the foreign exchange reserves of the country were all-time high at $23 billion currently, he added.He said around $35 billion worth of energy projects were envisaged under CPEC. He also stressed the need for the promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through public private Partnership (PPP) for creating job opportunities for the people.