CPEC to accrue benefits to all Pakistanis: China

China has reiterated that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an important consensus reached between the leadership of the two countries and that the project when completed will bring benefits to all the Pakistani people and the whole region. "To build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is an important consensus reached between leaders of the two sides. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will span the breadth and width of Pakistan, bringing benefits to all the Pakistani people, and drive common development and prosperity of China, Pakistan and the whole region," said Hong Lei, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Hong's remarks were released to the media here by the Chinese Embassy when asked to comment on the reported disputes in Pakistan over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. "As a long-term and systematic project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor needs scientific planning before being implemented step by step. We stand ready to work with Pakistan to complete the projects under construction and make long-term plans to ensure that the building of the corridor continues to deliver new achievements," the spokesperson further said. The remarks came following reservations expressed by various political parties, particularly those belonging to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the mega project.
Last week, an all-party conference hosted by Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), voiced concerns and called upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to address reservations of Balochistan. The APC was attended by Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, PPP senior leader Farhatullah Babar, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Liaqat Baloch, PML-N leader Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Deputy Chairman Senate and JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, PML-Q leader Mushahid Hussain, ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain and others.