KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) won’t allow anyone to politicise the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, the party would be compelled to launch protest in case smaller provinces stand ignored.
In a meeting held on CPEC at Bilawal House on Wednesday, former president Asif Ali Zardarisaid, “PPP fully supports the CPEC and looks forward to seeing timely completion of all projects under the corridor. It is good that Karachi Circular Railways, establishment of economic zone and Keti Bandar projects have also been included in the CPEC. The federal government should waste no time in implementing the resolution that was adopted at the All Parties Conference held on CPEC.”
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari along with party parliamentarians was also present on the occasion. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who had recently visited China over the issue of inclusion of KCR, Keti Bandar and economic zone under the CPEC, briefed the meeting.
The CM said inclusion of certain projects proposed by the provincial government is a great achievement as these projects would, upon completion and commencement of operation, bring prosperity to the lives of the people and would also open new avenues of earnings and employment. “These projects would help reduce poverty in the province,” the CM added.
Zardari on the occasion instructed the CM to approach the federal government for early commencement of work on the projects. He told the meeting that the CPEC is a game changer and a lot of countries in the world would benefit from it. “CPEC would open doors of prosperity for the country and would also help strengthen its economy,” he added.
He said PPP would extend full cooperation to the incumbent federal government but would be compelled to protest in case the federal government would ignore smaller provinces. “The party would, however, not drag the CPEC into politics and would also oppose anyone politicising it.”
He said that Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto had obtained K-2 from China and he had visited China soon after he had sworn in as president. Benazir Bhutto had added power projects for 50,000 megawatts but her government was toppled despite the fact that she had a vast plan for the development in Pakistan, he added.
