Parliamentary Committee on CPEC to take notice of Daily The Patriot’s report regarding hindrances in the project.
- COAS has taken it upon himself to ensure security of CPEC
- All parties taken into confidence on CPEC route
- Democracy not strong enough to take up Musharraf’s case
- Operation Zarb-e-Azab has brought peace in the country
- Housing sector is the backbone of economy
Patriot Report
Islamabad:
China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the future of Pakistan and the project will benefit the entire region, these views were expressed by Federal Minister for Housing and Works and member of Parliamentary Committee on CPEC Akram Khan Durrani while talking exclusively to Sardar Khan Niazi in Roze News program Sachi Baat. The Federal Minister for Housing and Works said that the Parliamentary committee on CPEC will take notice of the reports published in Daily The Patriot regarding hindrances in the CPEC project due to some elements in the bureaucracy. It is pertinent to mention that Daily The Patriot has raised the issue of hindrances in the CPEC on many occasions.
The Federal Minister said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has worked tirelessly for the project and the project was delayed due to the sit in by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). commenting on the route of the project Durrani said that the Prime Minister took all the parties into confidence regarding the route of the project and the final route was decided after consultation. He said that it was Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman who drew the route and everyone agreed on the route.
Elaborating the project the Minister said that Industrial Zones will also be established along with the economic corridor. Durrani said that the land for CPEC will be bought on market price from the sellers. He further added that the Government is committed to complete the project on urgent basis. Speaking about the economic benefits of the project he pointed out that the project will generate employment for thousands of people across the country. He highlighted the significance of the project by pointing out that Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had said that the CPEC is a matter of life and death for Pakistan and will be completed at any cost. He said the COAS is himself monitoring the matters related to the security of the project.
He said that the Government and the military are on the same page and we are not afraid of any threats by the enemies regarding the project. Commenting on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, the former Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa said that Imran Khan is the head of a party and we respect him. He pointed out that the PTI had claimed that they will make ‘Naya Pakistan’ in merely ninety days. He said that when Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman was the candidate for Prime Minister, Imran voted for him. He said that I have learnt politics from Maulana who is a leader of big stature. Speaking about the Maulana, Duranni said that he has the ability to convince people.
He said that he had worked a lot on Oil and Gas development in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP). He said that KP gets 33billion as gas royalty. He said that there is anger in the public because of the decisions of KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak regarding the gas royalty. Commenting further on the oil and gas sector in KP he said that OGDCL is not working in KP. He said that according to the Petroleum Secretary there are issues regarding law and order and I have asked the Petroleum Ministry to manage the security themselves and start working in KP because there are so many reserves in the province that the factories won’t even shut down for a day.
Speaking on the housing sector the Minister said that housing industry is the back bone of the economy. But since the independence of Pakistan construction has been carried out on only 25 thousand kanal land. He said that the PHA built only 5000 flats but now work is under way on construction on 40 thousand kanal land and that PM has a wish that housing should be provided to the unemployed. He further said that even after eight years we are giving away plots for just 2.5m. He added that the housing ministry alone can turn the fortunes of the country. Durrani also said that the summary has been prepared on F-12 sector and that most of the terror incidents have their roots in F-12.
Commenting on the country’s media the Minister said that the role of media is vital for the country. He praised Roze News and Pakistan Group of Newspapers for making and implementing a code of conduct. He also pointed out that the Imam-e-Kaaba had appreciated Roze News for telecasting Adhan five times a day and also presented the channel an award for its role in promoting the teachings of Islam.