CPEC To Play Important Role In Eliminating Terrorism From Region: Shehbaz

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 03rd Oct, 2016 ) : Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a splendid project of progress and Pakistan as well as the entire region would benefit from it.

Talking to a delegation of Muslim League-Nawaz here, he said the CPEC was a game changer and its completion would usher in an era of progress and development. He said that development projects were being executed speedily throughout Pakistan under the CPEC.

Shehbaz Sharif said that China was making a historic investment of 46 billion Dollars in Pakistan. "Chinese investment will not be limited to 46 billion dollars but more investment of thousands of dollars will be made." he added.

He said the CPEC had opened the doors for foreign investment in Pakistan. He said that large-scale job opportunities were being created for Pakistani youth due to Chinese investment of billions of dollars in Pakistan.

He said the CPEC would play an important role in elimination of terrorism, extremism and poverty from the region. He said that a new era of Pak-China friendship had started with the implementation of CPEC.

He said that investment of 46 billion dollars reflected the confidence of China in the leadership and policies of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He said that work was in progress speedily besides a high standard was being ensured of CPEC projects throughout the country.

He said that quality and transparency were the hallmark of these projects and the world was amazed at the speed of implementation of the CPEC projects.

He further said that Pak-China economic cooperation would leave a positive impact on the entire region.

He said that opposition to the CPEC projects was tantamount to enmity to the country. He said that some rejected elements wanted to hamper the process of national development and prosperity of the masses but enlightened people of the country would not allow them to do so and the CPEC projects would be implemented expeditiously at any cost.

He said that under the CPEC, investment of 36 billion dollars was being made in energy projects, which were being set up in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa as well as all over the country. He said that completion of power projects would eliminate energy crisis and electricity would be available in abundance till the end of 2017.

The Chief Minister said that China, which was a friendly country of Pakistan, realized its problems and made investment of billions of dollars in power projects. He said that speed at which work was being carried on power projects was unprecedented.

He said that Sahiwal coal power plant was being completed within a record period of 23 months whereas it usually took four to five years to complete such projects. He said that Sahiwal coal power plant would prove to be a masterpiece of Pak-China friendship and would start power production by the mid of next year.

He said, "Allah Almighty has granted an opportunity for progress and prosperity of Pakistan in the shape of CPEC and there is a need to make collective efforts to change the destiny of Pakistan and this region."