KPK demands a bigger project share in CPEC
KP demands hydel project merger into CPEC.
Dunya News Report (Yaruq Malik)
ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Energy Minister, Muhammad Atif, has demanded that the federal government should merge KP’s 2,600 MW hydel power projects into the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
The minister further added that the provincial government had 29 hydel power projects feasible to produce 2,600 MW of power, in total. He insisted that the KP government does not require any financial assistance in these projects, yet, if they are included in CPEC, they will be completed before schedule.
“We demand that these power projects be made part of CPEC. If the federal government can include imported coal-based power projects in CPEC, then why can’t KP’s natural and cost-effective hydel projects be included too. We do not need money for these projects, but if they are included in CPEC, they will be completed on a fast-track basis,” the minister said.
Previously, officials from the Chinese Development Bank and the Centre of Social and Economic Development Research visited Gwadar and inspected the port city for a possible investment under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Chairman Gwadar Port Authority (GPA), Dostain Khan Jamaldani, alongside the Director General of Gwadar Development Authority, Sajjad Hussain, welcomed the two Chinese delegations and gave a briefing on the projects currently under work. The Chinese delegations were led by the Vice President of China’s Central Development Bank, Xaio Mingzheng and the Chief of the Centre for Social and Economic Development Research, Duan Linyun.
The officials from China visited the Port Civic Centre, Gwadar Free Trade Zone, Gwadar Development Authority and Gwadar Port Complex. The team from China Central Development Bank voiced their interest towards investing in Gwadar and the projects that are under the domain of CPEC.
The minister of commerce, Khurram Dastgir Khan, stated that Pakistan would welcome Turkmenistan to join CPEC to enhance the regional connectivity with the port of Gwadar and the Arabian Sea. The minister insisted that Pakistan wishes to build strong ties with regional states to increase the overall trade economics.
“As we move forward to improve regional connectivity, we could further align our economic and trade interests,” the minister said.
While talking at the first Pakistan-Turkmenistan Business Forum, the minister highlighted the fact that the inter-regional connectivity between Pakistan and the Central Asian leadership will be fruitful for bilateral trade and business in the region.
Talking on CPEC, Mr. Khurram said that through CPEC, Pakistan will re-emerge in the world as an economic hub.
“Opportunities like CPEC emerge in decades and in terms of economic significance, it is comparable to the great trade route discoveries of the world,” said the minister.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Mr. Ahsan Iqbal warned that the ‘aggressive remarks’ generated from the KP and Baluchistan leadership were risking foreign investment. He insisted that the federal government is dedicated towards ensuring the end of the energy crisis in Pakistan in 2-3 years. He refused claims made by the KP government that Punjab is taking funds from China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and spending them on projects in Punjab.
“The federal government is not taking a single penny from CPEC to fund projects in Punjab. Punjab is raising funds for the orange line from their own budget.” said the Federal Minister.
Moreover, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf leader and the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pervez Khattak, had a similar complaint against the capital for not actively involving the KP government over the CPEC project and utilizing funds from CPEC into the projects in Punjab.
Interestingly, the KP government is now insisting that KP’s hydel power projects must be merged into the projects under CPEC. Contrary to this, the KP government had previously accused the Punjab government for utilizing funds from CPEC and using those funds in the development of the Lahore Orange Line Metro project.
The army chief made it clear that he is aware of every campaign that is working against the success of the CPEC project and ensured that the military will resist any negativity that harms its implementation.
“We are aware of all the campaigns against CPEC,” said the army chief.
Under CPEC, China is said to reduce its route cost by thousands of kilometers for its oil and gas imports from Africa and the Middle East.
