Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday that a new era of socio-economic revolution has begun in the country under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In a statement, Shahbaz said $46 billion Chinese investment in the country is a proof of trust of foreign investors in the economic policies of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
"Some political elements want to hinder the process of development and prosperity of the people, but the government is determined to complete the CPEC projects at all costs," the chief minister said. On the other hand, All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) said that the CPEC is potentially a game-changing move for the country's economy and all-out efforts must be geared towards making it success as we cannot afford to fall this mega project in the trap of spoilers.
APBF President Ibrahim Qureshi insisted that saner elements must play their role in dismissing the fallacies, if any, about this developmental project, which is going to transform the fortunes of the people of Pakistan. "Caution must be observed to ward off any attempt from any quarter to disrupt the CPEC project," he added.
He said that CPEC is a pact between Pakistan and China for progressive co-operation in improving Pakistan's infrastructure and providing employment opportunities. "Pakistan's political leadership should display political intrepidity, diplomatic acumen and strategic thinking to make the project a success," he added. "CPEC project should benefit not any foreign multinationals but the people of Pakistan. The provincial and federal governments need to jointly work out a strategy to achieve this objective in consultation with the Chinese government," Ibrahim Qureshi maintained.
As per APBF, CPEC is a collection of projects currently under construction at a cost of $46 billion, intended to rapidly expand and upgrade Pakistani infrastructure as well as deepen and broaden economic links between Pakistan and the People's Republic of China.