CPEC Industrial Phase To Start Very Soon: Acting Project Director

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CPEC industrial phase to start very soon: acting project director

FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Dec, 2016 ) : Hasan Dawood, acting project director, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has said that the industrial phase of the project will start very soon, under which Chinese investors will be allowed to set up only high-tech industries that will not have any negative impact on the existing industry.

He was talking to a delegation of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), that met him and apprised him about the reservations of the local industrialists. The delegation was headed by Engineer Ahmed Hasan, vice-president, FCCI.

Hasan Dawood said that CPEC had three major perspectives including geo-strategic, regional integration and industrial cooperation. He said that Chinese investors could not afford any clash at any stage with Pakistani industrialists and it was in this respect that they preferred to concentrate on Gwadar Port.

He said that three routes have been proposed to link China with Gwadar Port including eastern, western and central routes, which are expected to be completed by 2018. He said that land is now being acquired for establishment of industries in Gwadar, which will usher a new era of industrial progress.

Hasan expressed satisfaction over the keen interest shown by Iran and Turkey in CPEC project and said that Pakistan would also have direct access to international market through these link roads and deep-sea port.

He said that spade work had already been started to equip Pakistani youth with necessary skills so that it could be easily absorbed in industries to be set up by Chinese investors. He said that Chinese would also set up coal-fired power plants.

These power plants would not only fulfil our domestic needs but also enable Pakistan to export surplus electricity to energy-starved countries. Regarding industrial cooperation under CPEC, the acting project director said that working groups wre being established to determine needs of both countries.

Four meetings between National Development & Reforms Commission of China and Planning Commission of Pakistan have already been held. He said that working groups would have representation of all provinces and the FCCI would also present its proposal through their related province for discussion in the working group.

He said that 36 economic zones would be established under CPEC which would not only create thousands of jobs but also gear up the pace of progress and prosperity. He said the Gwadar port would minimise burden on Karachi and Port Qasim.

Earlier, Ahmad Hasan, FCCI vice-president, along with Dr Khurram Tariq, former Central Chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA), briefed the guest about reservations of local industrialists.