‘10 years of CPEC is a historical milestone’ Pakistan is sure CPEC will pick up momentum

Islamabad is sure that Pakistan will have speedy progress in the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Because the federal government expects that the CPEC will generate momentum after the visit of China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng and off course the government in Pakistan is also in different hands.
Federal Minister for Planning Development Ahsan Iqbal also says Pakistan expects speedy progress in the second phase (2030) of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) following visit of China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng.
He told media that Lifeng role is very important in making CPEC successful as he has been instrumental after becoming Chairman National Development Reform Commission (NDRC). Also, he has been appointed as vice premier to take care of Chinese economic area.
Chinese Vice Premier travelled to to Pakistan on his 3day visit for are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with Pakistan.
The event was also associated with appreciating Chinese companies working on the CPEC projects and meetings with Pakistani leadership besides the president.
Ahsan Iqbal said Lifeng;s visit is of great significance that would help enhance economic and financial cooperation between the two countries. ‘He has played a prominent role in China’s international economic relations and implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, of which CPEC is a flagship project.’
Ahsan Iqbal reportedly said that the present government is trying to increase business-to-business cooperation in the next phase of CPEC besides taking forward the industrialization in Pakistan with investment in the sector, as well as, to increase agriculture productivity through use of Chinese technology.
On the next day, Prime Minister welcomed the Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and members of his delegation as they arrived here on Sunday for a three-day visit, reported government news agency.
‘At the invitation of the Government of Pakistan, the Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping, the Vice Premier of China and Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, is visiting here to attend the 10th-anniversary celebrations of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).’
“It is my pleasure to warmly welcome the Chinese Vice-Premier H.E. He Lifeng and members of his delegation to Pakistan. They are visiting Pakistan to join us in celebrating the 10th anniversary of CPEC and witnessing first-hand the transformations brought about by this game-changing initiative,” the prime minister wrote on a microblogging site.
“During his visit, He Lifeng will call on President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif,” according to the Foreign Office spokesperson.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project had started a new journey of prosperity in the region and provided employment opportunities to millions of people.
“The completion of 10 years of CPEC is a historical milestone. Through this, Pakistan got China’s cooperation in the political sector as well as in the economic sector,” he said addressing the ceremony held to mark the 10-year celebrations of CPEC.
The minister said the visit of Chinese Vice Prime Minister He Lifeng as a representative of President Xi Jinping was very important on the completion of 10 years of CPEC.
He said, “The Government of Pakistan expresses its gratitude to the Chinese leadership and people for their friendship with Pakistan under difficult circumstances.”
When no one was ready to invest even one dollar in Pakistan, investment of billions of dollars was made available
by China to Pakistan under CPEC, he added.
Ahsan Iqbal said the investment of 25 billion dollars in the first phase of CPEC was a record foreign investment, which created employment for millions of people and new demand for the Pakistani industry, besides exposing local engineers and workers to new technology.
He said a new development era had started in the region with CPEC as China invested billions of rupees in Pakistan under it. CPEC helped Pakistan overcome the challenges. It had increased prosperity and harmony in both the countries.
He said CPEC was a beautiful bouquet between the two countries. Multan-Sukkur Motorway and Hazara Expressway were built while a road network was laid in the country. Similarly, the Gwadar Port and East Bay Expressway was built, while schools, hospitals and vocational centers of technical education were also set up in Gwadar.
The leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, he said, gave a new spirit to CPEC. It helped a lot in dealing with the energy crisis under CPEC.
In the second phase of CPEC, long-term projects would be started, he added