Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is truly a harbinger of economic development, peace and prosperity in the region and urged all national institutions to make all-out efforts to ensure the success of CPEC. Addressing a function on CPEC Logistics in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, he said that the CPEC is also an affirmation of Pakistan's efforts for a peaceful and prosperous region.
He said, "Unlike some other countries of South Asia, we believe in focusing on our energies for peace and inclusiveness rather than divisive competition." The Army Chief said that the CPEC will bring increasing economic integration among regional economies and reduce the development gap within various regions of Pakistan. He said that the Chinese investment in various fields including energy, infrastructure, Gwadar Port and special economic zones can lay the foundation of a fast development in Pakistan if the opportunity is optimally utilised.
Commenting on prevailing security situation in Pakistan, the Army Chief said the country is much safer that day then before as peace has been restored in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and its adjoining areas. He said normalcy is returning to the country's economic hub Karachi. Similarly, the law and order has improved significantly in Balochistan and there is great focus on socio-economic development.
The Army Chief said that Pakistan is making steady but sure-footed progress to get rid of the menace of terrorism and extremism. He said that Pak-China relationship is based on the principles of peaceful co-existence, commonality of interests and shared perception on regional and global issues. He said, "We have always stood by each other through thick and thin and at every critical juncture of our history that is why we are called as 'Iron Brothers'".