Pakistan, too, defends CPEC

A day after China took strong exception to the top US diplomat's remarks about China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan also categorically rejected the US claims that the multibillion dollars project is being financed either through loans or non-concessional financing with sovereign guarantees.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui told her weekly media briefing that the total CPEC debt is about US$ 4.9 billion which is not even the 10 percent of the country's total debt.

"The CPEC is a long-term project negotiated through a multi-layered process. It has helped Pakistan address development gaps in energy, infrastructure, industrialization and job creation," she said in response to various queries seeking Pakistan's response to the claims made by US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells against the CPEC.

She asserted that CPEC should be perceived in terms of enormous economic benefits for the people of Pakistan and social economic development. "We believe it is also beneficial for regional connectivity and prosperity," she further asserted.

She said that Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, adding that CPEC is a transformational project for Pakistan and its expeditious completion is top priority of the government. She pointed out that CPEC Authority has recently been established to oversee completion of the projects.

She further pointed out that 12 CPEC-related power projects have either been completed or are under construction with the total capacity of 7240 megawatts with an investment of US $12.4 billion. Another nine power projects are at an early stage with the capacity of 6390 megawatts electricity, she said, adding that these energy projects contribute over 14 percent of the total energy supplies in Pakistan. She said these projects have also paid about US $250 million in taxes during the construction phase and have created over 10,000 jobs.

The spokesperson said that all countries are welcomed to invest in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the CPEC.

About the possibility of Pakistan's coming out of the grey list of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), she said that Pakistan has taken a whole range of steps to meet the requirements of the FATF, adding that Pakistan remains closely engaged with the FATF members including the United States.

About induction of S-400 air defense system by India, she said Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concerns over the massive arms race in the region and the latest induction of ballistic missile defense system by India.

"Such destabilizing systems can undermine regional stability and may lead to an unnecessary arms race," she said, adding that Pakistan has proposed discussion on a strategic restraint regime for South Asia which includes the proposal to avoid the induction of the destabilizing weapons.

However, she added that the induction of ballistic missile defense system by India should not lead to any false sense of security and any misadventure, since Pakistan has the technological capability to ensure the continued efficacy of its deterrence. She also hoped that regional countries and beyond will be mindful of the legitimate security concerns of Pakistan.

Responding to a query, she said that Pakistan welcomes US President Donald Trump's mediation offer on Kashmir dispute and hoped these will be translated into some actions. However, she deplored that India has always hesitated to accept third party mediation.

Referring to the grave human rights situations in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, she called upon the international community to take notice of the situation and play an effective role in ending the worst humanitarian crisis in the occupied valley.

"We believe that India would do well to end the continuing incarceration of the Kashmiri leaders, including the Hurriyat leadership and allow the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) as well as its own political leaders, the international human rights and civil society organizations and journalists to visit the area and see for themselves the situation on ground," she added.

The spokesperson also rejected India's propaganda on the treatment of minorities in Pakistan, adding the BJP government's mischievous portrayal of an isolated law and order incident in Peshawar and Nankana Sahib as alleged 'persecution' of minorities is part of its smear campaign against Pakistan and a desperate attempt to divert attention from the ongoing state terrorism in IOJ&K as well as the ongoing systematic discrimination against minorities across India.

Responding to another query, she reiterated Pakistan's support for One-China policy on Taiwan, saying there is only one China and Taiwan is part of it.