Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal speaking to party workers and youth delegations from Baluchistan

Dated : 9 April 2017

Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform, Ahsan Iqbal has stated that world narrative about Pakistan has completely changed with converting CPEC dream into a reality and transformation of Gwadar as a new center of development in the region.

“Opponent were terming Pakistan as the most dangerous country in 2013. Now they are hatching conspiracies to create suspicions and halt CPEC’s success but they will have to see a failure” remarked Minister Ahsan Iqbal while speaking to party workers and youth delegations from Baluchistan.

Minister said that whole nation has decided to protect CPEC. The connectivity being provided through road infrastructure and development projects across the province has ensured mainstreaming of Balochistan, leading to eradicate sense of deprivation of the people for the first time in the history, he added.

Minister hoped that Gwadar will be enlisted as a center of modern education soon with completion of an international standard university in this port city. “The days are not far away, when students from across Pakistan and world will come here to get education and professional trainings”.

He said bringing industrial revolution and turning Pakistan into trade hub are the goals, set to be achieved under this multi-billion CPEC project. Projects in energy, infrastructure and port development will provide a base to industrialization of the country, he added, saying “Made in Pakistan would be considered as a sign of high quality and standard soon”.

Minister Iqbal stated that 85 Million Jobs are up for grabs in China due to relocation of Chinese industry that has lost their competitive advantage because of rise in cost of operation. CPEC presents an opportunity to Pakistan to grab major share of the available jobs which can help employ the unemployed surplus labour. People particularly the educated youth should not care about the propaganda but try to grab this opportunity as much as possible, he added.

Minister has seriously dispelled the impression that CPEC would bring demographic changes and people of Balochistan, particularly Gwadar will become a minority. He categorically said that people of Balochistan have the right on its resources and government will protect the social, economic and legal rights of the people of this province.

Ahsan Iqbal told that work on Gwadar Master Plan is in progress to make this city a world modern port city. “Like Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai, Gwadar will soon be a center of world investors and business associations” Minister added.

“Construction of Gwadar Airport will be starting this year which would prove another milestone in the development of this remote region” Minister stated. Further Gwadar to Quetta and Gwadar to Rathodhero roads construction have ensured better connectivity and opened a new era of development in Baluchistan.

Minister further stated that there is complete consensus among the federating units where Federal and provincial government are working jointly to ensure speedy implantation of CPEC projects. CPEC has brought a historic opportunity for the private enterprises of Pakistan. It is their duty to take maximum advantage of the industrial cooperation being planned under CPEC. The establishment of economic zones would bring maximum employment for local youth, he added.
“Enemies of CPEC are the enemies of Pakistan who cannot digest the remarkable success we achieved by converting CPEC agreement from a piece of paper into a billion dollars investment projects. The 50 billion dollars project has emerged as a leading project of regional cooperation, which is paving way for peace, prosperity and development Pakistan and whole Asia” , remarked Ahsan Iqbal.