Pakistan to build iconic skyscraper 'CPEC Tower' in Islamabad

Islamabad: Pakistan will build an iconic skyscraper in Islamabad, which would be the tallest building in the capital city and serve as a symbol of the all-weather China-Pakistan friendship.

The "CPEC Tower" will serve as a symbol of socioeconomic progress Pakistan is making across all the fronts, the government said on Tuesday. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that the iconic building will attract investors and would serve as a symbol of Pak-China friendship.

The USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a mega network of roads, rail links, power plants and other infrastructure connecting northwest China's Xinjiang province to Pakistan's southern port of Gwadar.

In November last year, China started operating the Gwadar Port which is now connected with northwest China's Xinjiang region. Chinese trucks loaded with goods manufactured in China are brought to Gwadar Port for export to the Middle East and other destinations.

Iqbal said a high-level committee to be headed by Malik Ahmed Khan, member infrastructure of the planning ministry, will work on the proposed CPEC tower. However, the details of the tower or the cost of the project were not provided.

Addressing the meeting, Iqbal laid down tasks for the committee and directed authorities to acquire land for the tower. Iqbal said that the initiative will provide facilitation to Chinese and other investors from around the world. The tallest building would help build an image of Islamabad as a sustainable and vibrant city thriving upon entrepreneurship, science and technology, research and development, finance and culture, he said.

"The CPEC tower should be equipped with state-of-the-art hotel, office spaces, commercial spaces and modern facilities", the minister was quoted as saying by the Pakistani media.