All obstacles slowing down CPEC projects removed: Planning Minister

Islamabad: Pakistani government has removed all obstacles hindering quick completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, a senior minister said.

Ahsan Iqbal, the Federal Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives, said in a statement that CPEC was a crucial plan for Pakistan and a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

He maintained that the planning ministry was committed to allocating funds for development projects despite financial constraints, and the release of Rs 129 billion for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) would be a significant step towards achieving the country’s development goals.

“The ministry aims to prioritize the Water Resources and the HEC sectors to ensure the smooth implementation of social development initiatives,” he reiterated.

The minister mentioned that despite financial constraints and disruptions caused by super floods last year, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives had released Rs 129 billion for development projects under the PSDP for the fourth quarter of (2022-23).

“The Water Resource Division and Higher education Commission (HEC) have been given top priority in the PSDP,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

In the last quarter of 2021-22, he reminded, there was a zero release for the PSDP, which resulted in the government shrinking the PSDP from Rs 700 billion to Rs 550 billion.

According to the latest data provided by the Planning Ministry, an amount of Rs 129 billion had been released for development projects under PSDP for the fourth quarter (2022-2023), including Rs 27 billion for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan GB and Ex-Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA).

An amount of Rs 30 billion was released to the Power Division to speed up the projects like Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Kachi Canal, Nai Gaj Dam, Rs 22 billion for the Ministry of Communications to expedite the projects like Khuzdar-Kuchlak Road, Dualization & Improvement of Old Bannu Road, and Rs 8 billion for the HEC projects, he underlined.

Similarly, he said, an amount of Rs 4 billion was released for the Ministry of Housing and Works, Rs 8 billion for the Ministry of Railway, and Rs 5 billion for the Power Division.

Ahsan Iqbal contended that the government was particularly focusing on the development in the Balochistan province which faced devastation in the recent floods.