Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Farooq Haider’s claim regarding funding of the Mansehra-Muzaffarabad-Mangla road by China has proved to be false, as the Planning Commission has refuted the claim.

A news item was released by the press secretary to the AJK PM on Tuesday, claiming that China has approved funds for the construction of Mansehra-Muzaffarabad-Mangla road under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and that work would soon start on the highway.

When contacted, a senior officer of the Ministry of Planning told Daily Times on the condition of anonymity that no funds whatsoever had been approved so far in this respect.

The officer said that five working groups had been formed to mull over the projects in connection with the special economic zones.

The AJK government had presented a plan in the meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) for the CPEC, but final decision for according approval to it would be made in the next meeting, he said.

“Presently no decision has been made by the government of Pakistan and the Chinese government in this regard.”

When contacted, Planning and Development Division Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar told Daily Times that a plan had been received from the AJK government for approval, which would come under consideration in the next meeting of the JCC for final approval.

On the other hand, the press secretary to the AJK PM told Daily Times that approval for the construction of the road had been given in the meeting held in Beijing, China, but the authorities were yet to decide who would invest in the project.

He said that the AJK government had worked out a feasibility report for the project in collaboration with the National Highway Authority (NHA).

“China has consented to provide funds for this project. The Chinese government will provide funds in phases,” he claimed. He further said that this project was approved in the first meeting of the JCC. “Now funds have been approved.”