Islamabad: The First phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be completed by 2018, Federal Minister Planning & Development, Ahsan Iqbal, has said in a statement.
He said production of 10,000 megawatt of energy under the $46 billion (Dh169 billion) CPEC project would help Pakistan overcome the energy crisis by 2018.
According to the minister, the road network of the corridor will provide “safest and shortest passage” of cargo from Gwadar seaport in Balochisan to upcountry for their onward movement to China’s western region.
Iqbal said that Pakistan and China are working closely and wholeheartedly to implement CPEC projects in the speediest manner.
Both sides are in constant touch through forums under CPEC framework and are moving ahead to complete CPEC projects, he said.
“Both sides realised the importance of CPEC for their own interests and for the benefit of the whole region to integrate it economically for social and economic uplift of three billion people of the region,” the minister said.
Iqbal said that there is unanimity in Pakistani society that CPEC is a historical opportunity for sustained economic development of the country and “we must capitalise on it through a united approach.”
“Pakistan political leadership, civilian government and military leadership, time and again, demonstrated their commitment to completion of CPEC. They are all on the same page for a bigger national cause,” Iqbal said.
