The National Highway Authority (NHA) on Friday told the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs that for the early operationalisation of Gwadar Port, the existing route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is being upgraded and it will not be changed. Briefing the committee, Chairman NHA Shahid Ashraf Tarar said that the work has been started on the existing infrastructure for the CPEC project, adding that the plan consists of both long-term and short-term projects.
He told the committee that the decision to use the existing infrastructure has been taken following consultation with the Chinese authorities and the original route was not possible due to lack of funds. Senator Haji Adeel, who chaired the meeting, expressed resentment and stated that the project should be completed according to the original plan so as to create opportunities for the less developed parts of the country.
He also shared a map of the route of the project, saying that the original route has been changed due to which less developed areas could be deprived. Later, talking to media persons, Haji Adeel reiterated that work should be started on the original plan of the CPEC project to prevent deprivation of the small provinces and the less developed areas.
In its previous meeting, the NHA chairman told the committee the original route needs $12 billion, which is not possible due to the non-availability of the required funds. He said that existing infrastructure will be upgraded, as the government plans to operationalize Gwadar Port in May this year. He said that at this stage the original plan of the CPEC from Khunjerab to Gwadar via Mianwali, D I Khan, D G Khan, Khuzdar and Turbat is not possible and Chinese authorities have also asked Pakistan to use the existing network of the motorways.