Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal, terming China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a reality, said on Wednesday that both Pakistan and China were committed to materialise this dream at any cost which was beneficial for the region and the world as well.

“The incidents like Quetta blast cannot reverse or delay this important initiative taken by Pak-China leadership and people and all the enemies would be defeated,” he said this while talking to journalists after addressing at Pakistan-Afghanistan Central Asian Republics (CARs) Trade Summit (PACTS).

He said that the development work was in progress at a fast pace on the projects being carried out under CPEC and there would be no role back or delay in its implementation. The rapid pace of work on the projects under CPEC had been acknowledged by the Chinese experts as the pace of development was faster than the projects in China, the minister said.

While responding to a question about the involvement of Indian intelligence agency, RAW in Quetta blast, he said, “The investigation into the incident is in progress and those involved in this heinous crime will be brought to justice.”

He said that there was a need to be more vigilant and alert after this incident. “We have to create unity among our ranks to frustrate such conspiracies,” he said. “We should not be discouraged after Quetta incident as our enemies may make more such attempts but these incidents strengthen our resolve to get rid of menace of terrorism,” he added.

“We are in the state of war and we have to further internal unity to completely defeating terrorism. Pakistan would emerge as the fastest growing economy after defeating the terrorists,” Ahsan said.

The minister said that CPEC had drawn attention of the world community towards Pakistan and this mega project would not only connect Pakistan and China but also would provide connectivity between China and Central Asian states and beyond this region.

He said that Asia would be the hub of future economic growth as China, Central Asia and South Asia were considered as engines of economic growth.

About the importance of Gwadar Port, he said that it was important for landlocked countries of Central Asia which were interested to set up cold storages and processing zones for their products in this city. “Our future generations would reap the fruits of better economic growth and foreign direct investment in the country,” he said. “Pakistan is rising and no one will be allowed to create hindrance in the way of development and progress,” he added.