CPEC panel told: Pakistan faces two percent loss of GDP yearly

Secretary Planning, Development and Reforms Hassan Nawaz Tarar Thursday informed a special committee on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that Pakistan is facing 2 percent loss of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year due to energy shortfall and load shedding.
The committee met with Senator Taj Haider in the chair at Parliament House to discuss the routes and projects of CPEC. Federal minister for planning, development and reforms Ahsan Iqbal, senators Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Farhatullah Babar, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar and others also attended the meeting.
The secretary planning said that the government is giving first priority to the energy projects to overcome load shedding in the country.
The committee also sought written replies of some questions from the ministry. The minister would present written replies of some questions in next meeting of the committee.
Farhatullah Babar said the committee has to submit its report on the CPEC routes and stressed upon the need on remaining adhered with targets. Babar raised some questions on western rout and projects regarding allocation costs, roads etc and said that the minister should submit their replies in written form to the committee.
The secretary planning said that Pakistan is not getting loan for energy projects. He said that the government will purchase electricity from the power plants installed by Chinese companies. He said that NEPRA would determine the tariff of electricity.
While briefing the committee about the energy project, Tarar said that a total of $33,793 million will be utilised to generate 17,045MW electricity.
Senators Usman Khan Kakar, Nawabzada Saifullah Magsi and others also raised questions on the corridor saying that western route was common and already exists in the area.
The participants of the meeting expressed concerns regarding lack of health, education, water and other facilities in Gwadar.
Ahsan Iqbal assured the members that all the facilities would be provided to the people of Gwadar. He said a technical university and a hospital would also be established in Gwadar.