ISLAMABAD: Senior professionals of the engineering community at an interactive-technical session held on Saturday called for doing proper homework to take benefit of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It is imperative to properly conceive, plan and negotiate the CPEC to ensure its trickle-down impact on the life of a common man, said engineer Zamir Ahmed Awan, who worked as a diplomat at the Pakistani embassy in Beijing and had a long working experience with Chinese officials and enterprises. The event was arranged by Institution of Engineers Pakistan, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Center (IEP-RIC) to sensitise the young engineers about various aspects of the on-going Sino-Pak socio-economic partnership. Zamir Ahmed who has recently set up a Chinese Studies Center of Excellence at the National University of Science & Technology, gave a detailed presentation on opportunities, challenges and way-forward in special reference to CPEC. The session was part of the series of events, being arranged by the IEP-RIC on regular basis for professional development of the young engineers, enabling them to play their productive role in the country’s socio-economic development. The session was presided over by the IEP-RIC Chairman Hafiz M Ehsanul Haq Qazi. Those who participated in the talks included the centre’s vice president Dr Attaullah Shah, secretary Shafiqur Rahman and the event’s coordinator Najamuddin. They emphasised that all the work relating to CPEC should be made transparent and the main stakeholders should be involved in its implementation. The CPEC, Ahmed said was a huge opportunity for economic prosperity and it was now up to the Pakistani side to benefit from it by understanding its various dynamics with due sincerity and commitment. The CPEC, he added has given confidence to Pakistan to overcome its various socio-economic issues. Ahmed further said that China’s influence in the region will have a very positive impact on achieving the targets of peace and stability. About the background of CPEC, he said the idea of this connectivity plan was conceived years before to have China’s access to Arabian Sea through Pakistan. Published in Daily Times, March 18th 2018.