Govt to remove all hurdles in the way of CPEC projects: Planning Minister

Gwadar Pro

Lahore: Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has said that the new Pakistani government will remove all hurdles in the smooth sailing of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

Speaking at a news conference here, Iqbal emphasized that CPEC was very important for the country’s future so the government will never compromise on quick completion of the CPEC projects.

He mentioned that in the past hurdles were created which slowed down the progress on the CPEC projects.

“The government’s top priority is to gear up all pending (CPEC) projects, which have been on a slow pace during the past few years,” Iqbal stated.

Ahsan Iqbal contended that Pakistan will have to put itself on the path to development like China, Malaysia, Turkey and South Korea, adding that he did not want Pakistan to turn into country left far behind others.

Last week, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Chaudhry Salik Hussain as Federal Minister and Chairman of the CPEC Authority.

Chaudhry Salik Hussain, a lawmaker from the government ally Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam), replaced Khalid Mansoor as the CPEC Authority chief.

The CPEC Authority was established through a presidential ordinance to oversee and implement various CPEC projects. It was placed under the Planning, Development and Reform Division in the previous government.