Quetta -  Expressing concerns over execution and progress of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects at a snail’s pace, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qadus Bizenjo on Tuesday said that realisation of plans under this game-changer corridor would be expedited.

“Gwadar is the nucleus of CPEC, but unfortunately, priority has been given and development projects are being executed in other units of the country,” claimed Qadus Bizenjo, adding rights of the indigenous people would be guaranteed in this mega project.

Speaking at a press conference at CM’s Secretariat, the chief minister added that whatever lethargy committed so far in implementation of these projects of CPEC wouldn’t be tolerated in future.

Prior to media conference, Qadus Bizenjo presided over a high level meeting to mull the progress on CPEC-related Balochistan projects and prospects of legislation for Gwadar development in length.

The partakers reviewed in detail the work on 18 CPEC-linked mega projects in Balochistan.

The chief minister revealed that he was unhappy during the CPEC-related briefing where he noticed that some projects were progressing at a snail’s pace, while other schemes were yet to be started.

“There is no desk and secretariat regarding CPEC. We are establishing a proper desk and secretariat in this context,” said Bizenjo, adding government would try to make the Board of Investment functional which was inactive.

Bizenjo went on to say that the provincial regime would make every possible effort for early execution of CPEC-related projects and in this regard the provincial government would also work closely with center and all stakeholders.

He added that all the reservations of Baloch people would be kept in view so that this mega project could lead to completion in larger interest of the country and province.

Bizenjo noted that government would take up at provincial level all those projects with the centre which are either progressing at a slow pace or yet to be started.

The chief minister also convened a cabinet meeting on Wednesday (today) to review host of issues in this regard and media would be apprised of the discussion.

“We will frame such legislation apropos to Gwadar which will be acceptable to all stakeholders,” Mir Bizenjo was reported as saying, adding they wouldn’t make such legislation that would create troubles for investors and others.

He added they would also observe the Gwadar Master Plan and check that whether rights of local people were not being usurped.

NAB hands over Rs15.32m

recovered money to CS

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Balochistan Director General Irfan Naeem Mangi said Tuesday that the bureau had been mandated under National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 to ensure recovery of looted money from corrupt.

Speaking at a ceremony of handing over Rs15.32million to Chief Secretary Aurangzeb Haque which the NAB provincial bureau had recovered as embezzled money from various provincial departments in the last few months, Mangi said the corrupt elements had nothing to do with politics, government and government employment as like terrorists had no religion.

Irfan Mangi added that corrupt elements were not God fearing people so they did not waste any moment in looting the national exchequer.

He added that all essential laws were present in the country but their implementation in letter and spirit and bring the corrupt elements into justice was the real problem.

He appealed to the chief secretary not to appoint those individuals on key positions who were facing cases in NAB.

The chief secretary distributed certificates among NAB officers showing excellent performance.