CPEC enhanced KP’s strategic importance: CM

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Friday said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has enhanced the strategic importance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that undertaking the mega project would lead to the development of the entire region.  An official handout said that he was talking to the ambassador of United Arab Emirates (UAE) who met him at the Chief Minister’s House here. 

The chief minister said the provincial government offered investment opportunities and the investors would benefit from the facilities. “We are training skilled labour. We will provide the required skilled human resources to the United Arab Emirates (UAE),” he said, adding that his government wanted to strengthen bilateral relations with Islamic countries. 

Pervez Khattak told the ambassador that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had made arrangements for investment. 

He added the province had enormous investment opportunities in energy, tourism, health, education, agriculture and other sectors.  

“We are also looking to Islamic countries to invest in KP,” he said.  He maintained that situation was favourable in the province for investment as local and international investors preferred the province.  

The chief minister said the provincial government had evolved a transparent system and was providing incentives to the investors. 

He said under the new industrial policy, ‘one window operation’ facility had been provided while an autonomous Economic Zone Development and Management Company had been established for the purpose.  “We have abolished the condition of securing no-objection certificate for investment in the province and made foolproof arrangements for provision of security to investors,” he added. 

The chief minister said that investors from Muslim countries should invest in the province. He said that investment would cement relations between the Muslim countries.  “We have fixed targets for development in the light of our progressive vision and have also taken steps to achieve them,” he added. 

The chief minister said the government had undertaken long-term planning to provide the country a strong. He said that transparent mechanism had been developed for investment in the province. 

The ambassador told the chief minister that UAE would invest in tourism, energy and other sectors. He said that the relations between Pakistan and UHE spanned 50 years.  He said people of both the countries respected each other and the relations would give new dimensions to their relations.  

The ambassador said that Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan had special love for Pakistan and the Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre was contributing to the promotion of Islamic culture.  

He termed his visit to Peshawar useful and said that UAE with the collaboration of the KP government would play an important role in development of Pakistan.