Asad Umar rejects concerns of slowdown in CPEC

September 18, 2021

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Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, has rejected the concerns that there is a slowdown in the implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, saying that most of the work on the CPEC projects was completed during the PTI Government, while it is also working with great zeal as Pakistan is entering 2nd Phase of CPEC

According to him, the first phase of the economic corridor included two main areas – energy and infrastructure.

“Energy and Power projects with an installed capacity of 3,340 MW were completed under the previous government, and 5,864 MW electrical projects were completed under the current government,” he said at a press conference in Islamabad.

In addition, the minister said that work has recently begun on another project with a capacity of 1,824 megawatts, which will be completed in next Government’s Tenure.

In terms of infrastructure and the road sector, Umar says the PML-N government had completed 394 km of motorways and highways within the Sino-Pakistani Economic Corridor, while the current government has completed 413 km of motorways and highways to date.

Asad Umar said the PML-N government completely ignored the West Corridor, which was its heart.

He said the previous government completed the construction of the Gwadar-Hoshab road, while the Hakla-Dera Ismail Khan Expressway was started by the PML-N government, which completed 42 percent of the project, and the current government did the rest.

Likewise, PC-1 has been approved for the Quetta-Khuzdar road, while funding Hoshab-Awaran road project was approved and a contractor has been hired.

The minister was informed that the government has also begun work on the roads connecting the western line.

The Karachi-Quetta-Chaman road with a length of 460 km has also been approved. Umar added that other roads such as the Nokundi-Mashkel road, the Mashkel-Bengur road and the Awaran-Jhal Jhao road have also been approved by the government.

After the first phase, Asad Omar said that we have entered very important second phase of the CPEC, during which investments will cover many sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, livestock, science and technology, as well as the development of other social sectors.

He said the current government has operationalized two special economic zones, the Allama Iqbal industrial zone in Faisalabad and Rashakai SEZ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while another special economic zone called Dhabeji will also operate shortly after the Sindh government selects a contractor for special economic zone.