Asfandyar terms CPEC ‘Punjab Economic Corridor’

SWABI: Accusing the federal government of making changes in the original route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan on Tuesday termed the CPEC as “China-Punjab Economic Corridor.”

Addressing a gathering, he accused the federal government of deviating from the original plan of the mega project. He maintained that there was nothing for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and the tribal areas in the project. “The rulers in Islamabad are responsible for the prevailing scenario,” he said, adding, the original route of the economic corridor passed through northern parts of Balochistan and southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Asfandyar Wali said he had repeatedly asked the federal government not to change the original route of the corridor and give Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan their due rights and share.

He said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders had failed to remove the misunderstanding and shoulder its obligations and responsibilities towards the federation units. “The ANP welcomes Chinese support and continued assistance to Pakistan, but the changes made in the project are not acceptable to us,” he declared.

The ANP leader said that his party wanted to launch a campaign to press the government to follow the original plan of the CPEC, but it was delayed due to the tensions between India and Pakistan after the Uri attack 

He said the federal government should give rights to the Pakhtuns and Balochs. “The PML-N leaders must not backtrack from their own commitments about the development of the poor smaller provinces,” he said.He said the federal government had failed to implement the unanimous decisions made in the All Parties Conference (APC) on CPEC.

“The PML-N had assured the APC that it would not make any change in the original plan and would give KP and Balochistan their due share in the multi-billion project,” he recalled.Speaking on the occasion, ANP provincial president and former chief minister Ameer Haider Hoti said they were compelled to launch the campaign regarding the denials of rights to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the CPEC.

He said the ANP leadership didn’t want to create controversies about the project. “The federal government is responsible for the uncertainty about the CPEC,” he said. “We will not allow anybody to usurp the rights of the Pakhtuns,” he vowed.