Imran Khan orders to expedite work on CPEC projects as new pointman takes over

Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to expedite the work on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as new pointman – Khalid Mansoor – had taken over, a senior minister said.

Mansoor has assumed charge as the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on CPEC after his appointment this week.

Planning Minister Asad Umar said the PM wants good results within weeks. “CPEC it very close to the heart of the PM. He wants to remove every hurdle to streamline working. The main focus is on pace of work now,” he added.

Umar said the PM also expects huge investments from China in the near future in the CPEC projects.

Already, the Century Steel (Pvt) Ltd, a Chinese company is set to invest US $ 360 million in the Rashakai Special Economic Zone in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the CPEC.

CPEC Project Director Dr Liaquat Ali Shah said that all the utility facilities including electricity, gas, water, and others for Rashakai Special Economic Zone would be completed by the end of 2021.

The project director also said that the 1,000-acre zone will create 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and is expected to attract Rs 347 billion in investment.

In a separate statement, Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar said there should be no speculations over Pakistan-China relations, particularly on the CPEC.

He clarified that former CPEC Authority Chairman Lt. General Asim Saleem Bajwa (retd) had resigned due to personal reasons and it will have no effect on CPEC projects.

“Al the projects in the field of science and technology, agriculture and industrial sectors would be completed under public private partnership and local firms will forge joint ventures with international companies for investment in CPEC projects,” Umar said. Umar said he had recommended the name of Khalid Mansoor as new Special Assistant to Prime Minister on CPEC and Prime Minister Imran Khan gave his consent after detailed discussion.

He said a Pakistan-China steering committee had been constituted to resolve the issues of investors on priority basis.