LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that CPEC will play an important role in elimination of terrorism, extremism and poverty from the region.
Talking to a delegation of PML-N here Monday, the chief minister said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor was a splendid project of progress and prosperity and Pakistan as well as the entire region will benefit from CPEC.
He said this project was a game changer and its completion will usher in an era of progress and development.
He said that development projects were being executed speedily throughout Pakistan under CPEC. Shehbaz Sharif said that China was making a historic investment of 46 billion dollars in Pakistan. He said that Chinese investment will not be limited to 46 billion dollars but more investment of thousands of dollars will be made.
He said that 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 that a new era of Pak-China friendship had started with the implementation of CPEC. He said that investment of 46 billion dollars reflect 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 is being ensured of CPEC projects throughout the country. He said that quality and transparency are the hallmark of these projects and the world is amazed at the speed of implementation of CPEC projects.
He further said that Pak-China economic cooperation will leave a positive impact on the entire region. He said that opposition to CPEC projects tantamount to enmity to the country. He said that some rejected elements want to hamper the process of national development and prosperity of the masses but enlightened people of the country will not allow them to do so and CPEC projects will be implemented expeditiously at any cost.
He said that under CPEC, investment of 36 billion dollars is being made in energy projects, which are being set up in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa as well as all over the country. He said that completion of power projects will eliminate energy crisis and electricity will be available in abundance till the end of 2017.
The chief minister said that China, which is friendly country of Pakistan, realizes its problems and made investment of billions of dollars in power projects.
He said that speed at which work is being carried on power projects is unprecedented.
He said that Sahiwal coal power plant is being completed within a record period of 23 months whereas it usually takes four to five years to complete such projects. He said that Sahiwal coal power plant will prove to be a masterpiece of Pak-China friendship and will start power production by the mid of next year.
The chief minister said that Allah 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.
