National Assembly reviews CPEC details

Islamabad: The National Assembly has reviewed the details of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

During the session, the details of the CPEC projects were tabled in the house. The planning ministry informed National Assembly that currently 39 projects worth US $ 25 billion had been started under the CPEC. Some of them have been completed while work was in progress on the other projects, the House was told during the ‘Question Hour.’

Responding to questions, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Baber Awan said the government has taken various steps for reviving economy, accelerating pace of economic growth and creating employment in the country.

He maintained that the government took several special initiatives, which include construction package, textile package, Kamyab Jawan (successful youth) initiative, Employment generation through CPEC, and Pakistan’s Green Stimulus Package to strengthen economy.

Babar Awan claimed that despite all constraints around 2.32 million jobs were created during first year of the government.

He contended that the government was making concerted efforts to promote exports through facilitation of industrial sector by reducing its costs and rationalizing duties on raw materials.

Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Aliya Hamza Malik stated that the country’s exports crossed the figure of over US $ 25 billion last year due to prudent policies of the government.

She pointed out that Pakistan had gained market access to Indonesia under the Pakistan-Indonesia Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). She added that Pakistan was in the process of negotiating Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with other countries including Thailand and Iran.