Summary Will make an international airport in Gwadar, corridor will be game-changer in the region, says PM
LONDON: (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has on Thursday said that the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor will change the fate of the region. He said that Gwadar will be made an international city and an international airport will also be constructed there. He said that there will be no load shedding in the country by 2017, reported Dunya News.
Talking to media outside his residence in London, PM Nawaz Sharif said that he discussed the Yemen conflict in detail with the Saudi authorities. He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed extra-ordinary mutual relations and Pakistan kept Saudi security very dear.
Talking about Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan and the economic corridor, PM Nawaz said that Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan was extremely successful. He said that projects will be started throughout the country and they will positively affect the region. “Thousands of jobs will be created with this economic corridor. Power projects will be established on Bin Qasim Port, in Thar and at various other places of the country”, he said.
PM said that Pak-China economic Corridor will not benefit any province in particular. “Projects in all provinces will be started”, he added. “Work has been started on Hazara Motorway. We are also establishing a coal power project in Azad Kashmir”, he said.
PM Nawaz also said that all economic indicators were improving. “Our GDP is improving, foreign exchange reserves are increasing, inflation is at 14-year low and we are strengthening our economy with each passing day. These new projects will further help enhance Pakistan’s economic strength”, he said. He said that power prices have been reduced in the country. He urged the media to inform the people that petrol prices have been lowered and electricity prices have also been reduced. “There will be no load shedding in two years time. We are installing new power projects that will help curb the energy crisis”, he said.
Responding to a question about NA-246 by-poll, PM said that there is a pattern. “We had won the Nankana Sahib seat by around 5000 votes in General Election 2013. Our candidate died and his daughter was awarded the ticket for by-poll. She won by some 28,000 votes. Same happened yesterday in Karachi where Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) won”, he said.
Earlier: PM Nawaz arrives in London after Saudi Arabia visit. PM completed his Saudi visit, will meet David Cameron and will stay in London for 5 days.
After completing his Saudi Arabia visit on Friday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in London on a 5-day visit. Pakistani High Commissioner Syed Ibn Abbas and British government officials gave him a warm welcome at Heathrow Airport. Prime Minister will meet British counterpart David Cameron tomorrow, Dunya News reported.
Earlier, PM Nawaz met Saudi king Shah Salman Bin Abdul Aziz in Saudi capital Riyadh. Yemen conflict was discussed during the meeting and the two leaders expressed concern over growing security threats in the Middle East.
According to a statement issued from Pakistan Foreign Office (FO), PM reiterated his resolve during his meetings with the Saudi government officials that Pakistan gave top priority to Saudi Arabia’s defence and security and could never stay silent on threats to Saudi Arabia. Nawaz Sharif made it clear that any aggression on Saudi Arabia will be dealt with strongly and effectively. He said that Pakistan strongly condemned the overthrow of Yemeni government at the hands of Houthi rebels.
The statement issued by FO demanded Houthis to leave all occupied territory including Sanaa. PM also met Shah Salman Bin Abdul Aziz earlier along with delegations before meeting him one-on-one and also met Saudi Vice Crown Prince, and Interior Minister, Muhammad Bin Nayef and Defence Minister Prince Muhmmad Bin Salman as well.
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, Special Advisor to PM Nawaz Sharif Tariq Fatemi and Secretary Defence also accompanied Nawaz Sharif on the visit to Saudi Arabia.
