Daily Times

LAHORE: The All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) has expressed its concerns regarding the conspiracies being observed against the ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’ (CPEC) – a transnational project, promising an investment of over $50 billion.

The recent rise in terror-attacks in Pakistan, may threaten the timely completion of the revolutionary CPEC project, or sabotage infrastructural development and faster economic progress in Pakistan, said the forum.

The All Pakistan Business Forum’ (APBF) is a vibrant association business-leaders and entrepreneurs that promotes and protects the interests of the business community and industries in Pakistan. Hence, the forum has condemned these conspiracies – apparently brewed by countries like India that have economic and political rivalries against Pakistan. These traditional rivals could even be promoting extremism, violence and cross-border terrorism in Pakistan, it added.

The APBF President Ibrahim Qureshi stated that; “The government authorities and ‘Law-Enforcement Agencies’ of Pakistan must remain vigilant for protection against the threats that may sabotage the CPEC. This way, maximum advantage of the CPEC can be taken, to revolutionise the trading, transportation and industrial infrastructure. The APBF is committed to extend all available resources and capabilities, to engage prolific organisations and entrepreneurs in the region, for creating robust links, new opportunities and mutual benefits for Pakistan and China.”

With such huge foreign investment coming into Pakistan country, it is essential to beef-up security for enabling robust growth in trade and commerce. The CPEC will also create fresh opportunities to build new industrial sites in deprived and remote areas, connected to this vast network of roads and railways. It also includes energy-projects worth over 34 billion Dollars, to add abundant power-supply to the national grid and resolve the energy-crisis in Pakistan.

Over the years, the APBF has also been advising the government on; policy formulation, regulatory realignments, economic reforms and implementation.