ISLAMABAD: Just ahead of upcoming Chinese President’s visit to Islamabad, all major political parties on Thursday asked the federal government to evolve consensus on route of $45 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Federal Minister for Planning and Development Professor Ehsan Iqbal has given a detailed briefing on the CPEC route to parliamentary heads of the political parties having representation in Parliament. However, no representative from PTI participated in this briefing. The briefing was attended by JUI-F head Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Akram Durrani, Federal Minister for Housing Senator Taleh Mehmood, PkMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, ANP’s Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Senator Illayus Bailour, PML-N’s Zafar Iqbal Jaghra, PPP’s Farhat Ullah Babar , JI’s Sahbizada Tariq Ullah, PML-F’s Syed Muzzafar Hussain Shah and Professor Sajid Mir and others. At the conclusion of the briefing, Maulana Fazlur Rehman told the reporters outside the Planning Commission that there was no opposition on CPEC and multibillion dollars Chinese investment. “The government has explained its position that there will be no change in the original route of CPEC,” he said and added that they only wanted inclusion of KP and Balochistan routes into the CPEC. He said that they would not oppose if the government developed more routes establishing linkages with Lahore. The government, he said, made it clear that the route of KP through Dera Ismail Khan would be given preference. When asked about budgetary allocations in the next budget, he said that the government was going to allocate resources for the CPEC projects.ANP leader Senator Afrasiab Khattak told reporters that the government did not make it crystal clear that on which route the industries, hydel projects and other economic activities related infrastructure would be established. He said when they asked the government to share clear cut decision on CPEC routes and attached economic activities, there was no firm reply as well in today’s briefing from the minister for planning. Senator Illayus Bailour said that the briefing was given by the ministry by sharing its plan regarding allocation of funds in the coming financial years.JI’s Sahibzada Tariq Ullah said that he had given alternative route for CPEC during today’s meeting by establishing linkages with Dir and other adjacent areas and the minister for planning assured him of considering this route in the CPEC. The PML-Functional leader Syed Muzzafar Hussain Shah told reporters that he asked the government to evolve consensus among all the political parties before finalising route for the CPEC. He said that the parliamentarians belonging to KP, Balochistan and Fata were demanding from the government to include their areas in the CPEC projects so that maximum economic activities could start in their areas ushering in an era of prosperity. “There should be no division among the political parties on CPEC and it can only be achieved by evolving consensus among them,” he concluded.Despite repeated attempts, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Professor Ehsan Iqbal could not be contacted for seeking his comments. According to press release, Minister for Planning and Development Prof Ahsan Iqbal while chairing a meeting of leaders of political parties and parliamentarians on CPEC, said, “The government is committed to ensure united and strong Pakistan through shared prosperity and inclusive development. We are double concerned about backward areas of Pakistan and China Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC shall bring dividends to all the provinces and regions of Pakistan.” Commenting on the western road alignment for CPEC, he said, “Gwadar will serve multiple destinations and markets and comprises multiple routes. The impression that western route has been ignored is not correct. Rather work is under way on this route to complete the 400km missing link between Gwadar and Surab to pass through Quetta, Zhob, DIK and Peshawar. The FWO is working on Gwadar-Sorab alignment for the last eight months despite security issues. The confusions on the change of route alignment have surfaced due to miscommunication and there is no change in the original route alignment of CPEC. The western route is being done by our own resources and it will be ready before other routes.” National Highways Authority (NHA) Chairman further clarified the facts on the road connectivity of around 200km from Zhob to DIK via Mughalkot. He assured that 124km road connectivity from Zhob to Mughalkot would be started within next four months which would connect Gwadar in the north towards the province of KP. The technical feasibility was underway on the road connectivity from Mughalkot to DIK. While acknowledging sacrifices of KP province in the war against terror, Ahsan Iqbal said, “Prime Minister will announce special package for KP soon. The current financial year has approved higher education projects of Kohat, Gomal and DIK universities. New universities will be established and existing universities will be upgraded and expanded. The work on 4500MW Dasu Dam is already underway in KP and work on Sukki-Kanari project of 900MM will start under CPEC”. “The roadmap on industrial parks and economic zones under CPEC has not yet been finalised. The joint working group will be constituted for this shortly and all the political parties will be taken on board before finalising it. Industrial parks will be established in all provinces,” he added. “CPEC will follow scientific method of planning and step by step approach to development. We have many ambitions but meager resources. We need to mobilise resources in order to meet our development goals. Against Rs2,200 billion tax collection, we spend Rs1400 billion on debt servicing, Rs800 billion on defence and only Rs525 billion on development. Our development strategy prioritises areas of energy, infrastructure, higher education etc through uniform policy and in the best interest of the country”, he said. The federal minister appreciated all the leaders of political parties on their understanding and participation for discussion on CPEC and said, “Democracy is name of participatory development. Government believes in strengthening political economy, which is a key to success for development. All parties will be taken into confidence in all development plans. He said that he urged them to help in promoting social sectors to meet MDGs.All the political parties appreciated federal minister’s patience and tolerance to listen to the viewpoint of parliamentarians.
