ISLAMABAD - Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb Friday said that the success of CPEC was inextricably linked to continuity and stability of democracy in the country.

Addressing the CPEC Cultural Caravan ceremony here at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts in regards to cultural troupe comprising artists from Pakistan and China that will travel from Khunjrab to Gawadar.

She said that CPEC was vision of Nawaz Sharif and it was successfully being implemented due to the stability in the democratic process.

Regarding the cultural caravan she said that it would reach Gwadar on November 19, traversing the CPEC route and on the way the artists from both the countries would enthral people with their performances.

She said that due to the sacrifices of the armed forces and law enforcing agencies the scourge of terrorism had been brought under control leading to restoration of democratic stability. She said that the world was getting a positive image about Pakistan and the international media was also acknowledging our achievements. She said that international institutions were also endorsing our political stability and economic revival, which was our real success.

The minister said that peace had returned to the country, cultural activities had resumed and the process to revive the film industry was proceeding satisfactorily. The minister said that the objective of the CPEC cultural troupe was to highlight all aspect of the project which would not only strengthen economic bonds between the two countries but would also promote cultural ties between the two countries.

The minister said that when the PML(N) assumed power in 2013 the country was confronted with formidable challenges including terrorism, energy crisis and economic melt-down and it was in the grip of rampant terrorist attacks. She said that the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after taking charge in his first speech had promised to restore peace in the country and to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. Marriyum said that it was due to his vision that terrorism had been controlled to a great extent.

The minister informed that PNCA was trying to promote CPEC through different cultural activities, which would be instrumental to imparting impetus to economic progress. She said that PNCA recently had organized a festival of Chinese films and the former ambassador of China had also rendered valuable contribution in strengthening cultural ties between the two countries. The minister said that the ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, PTV, Radio Pakistan and PNCA had collectively arranged special programmes to promote culture and heritage.

The minister observed that a national film policy was being formulated for the revival of film industry in the country which would include incentives for the artists and the industry, setting up arts academies and film studios, screen tourism and revival of cinema screen. She said that this policy would soon be unraveled.

The cultural counselor of China expressing good wishes for the success of the CPEC caravan said that through such activities, people-to-people contact and exchange of delegations the brotherly ties between the two countries would be further reinforced.