ISLAMABAD - Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal yesterday said that the Federal government would incorporate the economic zones in China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor on the recommendations of provinces and asked the KP government to come up with their specific proposals in this regard.
Ground-breaking of D.I.Khan Section will take place next month and will be completed by July 2018, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal stated this in a meeting with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Pervez Khattak, accompanied by Parliamentary leaders of KPK Assembly here.
He further said that the Federal government is ready to extend sovereign guarantee to KP on the lines given to other provinces.
He assured the KPK CM that the Federal government would take Chashma Right Bank Canal project on priority basis that would benefit the irrigation system.
Regarding CPEC, he said that the Western route is very much part of China-Pakistan Economic framework and has also been clarified by Embassy of China in Pakistan.
The Federal government is determined to complete it on priority basis by providing all the required funds for it.
He said that the work on Western route is progressing in full swing. Gwadar-Surab Section will be completed by December 2016, he added. He said that KP should ensure speedy land acquisition of parts of Western route, which has to pass through some areas of KPK.
He assured the KP CM that the Federal government would not discriminate with any province or region in CPEC, which is bound to benefit all parts of the country especially the less-developed provinces KPK and Balochistan.
Ahsan Iqbal said that Western route is very much part of monographic study of CPEC, which is the guiding document of its transport plan.
He clarified that CPEC document clearly states that no new CPEC road would be constructed under CPEC framework, but it envisages developing missing links on existing network including Western route.
He also assured provincial Chief Minister that the Federal government would incorporate the economic zones on the recommendations of provinces.
He asked KP government to come up with their specific proposals for economic zone. KPK should engage a well-reputed consultant to develop identify commercially viable sites in the province to make them attractive for the investors, he said.