LAHORE: Chairman National Assembly Parliamentary Committee for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Sher Ali Arbab has said that the CPEC has laid the foundation of great industrial and economic development as Pakistan would emerge as a global economic power after completion of the project.
“CPEC has entered into its 3rd phase and we have to move forward for speedy industrial and economic growth as Pak-China economic cooperation was in the interest of both nations.”
Sher Ali Arbab said this while addressing a seminar held here on Thursday on the topic of the role of parliament for industrial and economic development under CPEC. The seminar was arranged with the collaboration of the Punjab Board of Investment, Nation Assembly Secretariat, Planning and Development Board and Friedrish Ebert Stiftung Pakistan and attended by Acting Council General China, provincial ministers, members of parliament and investors from both countries.
Chairman NA’s Parliamentary Committee on CPEC said that the seminar would be having positive results bringing consensus-building proposals regarding CPEC which would be implemented as such seminars and conferences were also being held in other provinces and Islamabad would also host a national conference in this regard.
Sher Ali Arbab further said Punjab is the largest province of Pakistan having great investment opportunities and cooperation between Punjab and the federal government would be enhanced for exploring more investment openings as CPEC was a game-changer for Pakistan.
Addressing the seminar, Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht said special economic zones in Allama Iqbal Industrial City Faisalabad was the Chinese investment under CPEC and the best facilities were being provided to the local and foreign investors as all the hurdles relating to red-tapism have also been removed.
Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Nong Rong while addressing the seminar through video link said Pakistan-China friendship was spreading over decades and economic cooperation was increasing with every passing movement. He further said numerous infrastructure projects had also been completed under CPEC in Punjab relating to industries, transport and energy sector. FES country head Jochen Hippler also addressed the seminar.
Later on, a dialogue was also held relating to agriculture, industry and other sectors and experts gave their proposals reiterating to enhance cooperation in the technology sector and initiating joint ventures with Chinese companies.