Islamabad: Pakistan’s top envoy Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will make Pakistan self-reliant in different spheres. Addressing an inaugural ceremony of a three-day conference on CPEC and the Region Integration here, Mr Aziz said apart from connectivity, the project would help Pakistan to overcome energy shortages.
He said many of the multidimensional power projects under the CPEC were already under implementation and will add about 17000 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
Mr Aziz, adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on foreign affairs, also clarified that China was investing $36-billion in these power plants and providing soft loans for infrastructure development.
The adviser emphasised the need for diversifying the country’s exports. He said private sector and entrepreneurs should be more forthcoming to bring value addition in the industrial parks to be established in each province under the mega project.
He said that CPEC carried enormous economic potential not only for Pakistan but different regions including Gulf.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Pakistan Navy’s special taskforce TF-88 for maritime security of CPEC was inaugurated. A ceremony in this connection was held at Gwadar.
Speaking on the occasion, chief guest chairman of joint chiefs of staff committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat said the task force would ensure safe implementation of CPEC. He lauded the role of Pakistan Navy to secure the maritime environment for the flagship project of CPEC.
