RAWALPINDI - Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) president Raja Amer Iqbal has said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is crucial for the country’s economic stability and prosperity.

Talking to a group of traders at RCCI on Thursday, he said the CPEC project must be kept away from politics, adding that all the political groups should show mature approach and avoid making it controversial, for the benefit of the people of this region.

He said, “CPEC is a mega development initiative regarded as a game changer for Pakistan and the region as well. The CPEC project will serve as a lifeline for our national economy,” Raja Amer Iqbal said it is very unfortunate that some political elements are trying to make it controversial, adding that ‘the CPEC is a national project and never belonged to any political party, individual or province’.

He said that Rawalpindi is one of the major cities that fall in the northern part of the CPEC project that is why there exists a huge potential to boost trade and other business activities in the city.

Raja Amer urged the government that Rawalpindi should be included in the CPEC project because due to its location the city has the potential for establishing cold storages, goods transportation and warehouses to carry out the project at much faster pace.

He said Rawalpindi is a hub of trade involving Kashmir, Gilgit, Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa and has road and rail links with various parts of the country.

Highlighting the prospects for the technical manpower, he said when industrial and trade activities would enhance under the CPEC project it would pave the way for employment opportunities for thousands of people.