Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is going to take up the issue of civil-military differences on the Special Security Division established for security of the project on Monday (today).

The meeting will be headed by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed at Parliament House. The CPEC committee will discuss a seven-point agenda regarding the CPEC issues.

After taking serious note of not finalising the terms of reference of the Special Security Division the committee summoned the defence and interior secretaries to explain the delay, sources privy to the development told Daily Times.

They also said that there are serious differences between the federal government and military establishment on the control, powers and functions of the Special Security Division. On one hand, the federal government wanted to take the division under its control with a view that it was the sole provider of funds. On the other hand, the military establishment wanted to take all powers, functions and affairs under its control with a view that the force trained for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor security and creation of this division was its idea and it was in a better position to run the affairs of this division.

The CPEC committee would give recommendations after listening to both the secretaries, sources said.

Role of the Commerce Ministry in CPEC would also be discussed in the meeting and Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan along with his secretary would brief the committee.

Status of survey report on wind power generation capacity in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will also be discussed. Secretaries for planning and water and power and Private Power Independent Board managing director have been summoned in this regard. The committee chairman would also present a report on his recent Gilgit-Baltistan visit.