CPEC: Pakistani Parliamentary Committee ordered immediate resolution of all issues faced by Chinese investors

Islamabad: A Pakistani Parliamentary Committee has ordered immediate resolution of all the issues faced by the Chinese investors in Pakistan – especially related to those affiliated with the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives issued the directives here at a meeting.

The meeting held under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, discussed in detail the issues being faced by the Chinese Investors in Pakistan and the measures taken in this regard.

The Chairman Committee as in its previous meeting had inquired about the forum on which the issue of the Chinese investors should be taken. “There should be a remedy at Government level” he said.

The Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives informed the committee that a Pakistan-China Committee has been constituted with the objective to remove the hurdles of finalization and execution of the Projects.

The constituency of the CPEC authority, headed by a Chairman is also an apt forum to redress issues faced by the Chinese Investors, the ministry added.

The Chairman Committee was dismayed the fact that it is a general observation that the committees are non- effective and do not produce results.

“There should be a focal person to communicate the issues between the concerned authorities and the investors” Mandviwalla stressed.

The Secretary Committee Tod the. Eyeing that Chairman CPEC authority is the right person to bring in the concerns of the Chinese investors to further address the issues through the committee.

A comprehensive briefing by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) on their roles, functions and performance was also received by the committee.

The PIDE officials briefed the committee that PIDE is the 1st Asian Think Tank since 1957 initiated by the US AID for long-term planning.

PIDE aims for Research, Projects and Surveys, Academic Programs and Executive Training through active and continuous debate on key issues, extensive engagements with policymakers, practitioners, professionals, academia and development partners.

The meeting was attended by Senators Dost Muhammad Khan, Ejaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Muhammad Tahir Bizinjo, Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen and Senator Hidayat Ullah.