CPEC Phase-II gets focus: NA speaker terms CPEC key to Pakistan’s future; says all MPs are China’s

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser Thursday said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a key to Pakistan’s economic future.“Parliament of Pakistan fully supports CPEC and Insha Allah, we will take it forward, including the second phase started with the Rashakai Special Economic Zone, whose ground breaking is scheduled in December 2019,” he said while addressing a ceremony organised by Pakistan-China Institute along with Power China in Islamabad Thursday to present Report on Energy Projects of CPEC including a specific one on the first power project, the Port Qasim Power Project of 1320MW. Speakers at a diverse and distinguished audience from including China and Pakistan, organised by Pakistan-China Institute along with Power China, lauded CPEC as the “economic future of Pakistan” and termed CPEC as a “success story”. The function was organised at a local hotel.Asad Qaisar was the chief guest while Umar Ayub, Minister for Energy was guest of honour who made a keynote speech along with Ambassador Yao Jing, Chairman of Pakistan China Institute, Senator Mushahid Hussain, Sher Ali Arbab, Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on CPEC, President of Power-China Resources, Du Chunguo as well as Sun Jianli from Power-China Headquarters, Beijing. Asad Qaisar appreciated the efforts of Power-China for promoting of CPEC and development of energy infrastructure in Pakistan, and announced that the National Assembly will organise a seminar in December to discuss expansion of CPEC beyond Pakistan and China to Central Asia. “I had instructed the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC to initiate seminars in different parts of Pakistan,” he said.He said Pakistan is a small country and China will link it with the rest of the world through mega projects like BRI and CPEC. The NA Speaker said not only he but all the parliamentarians of Pakistan are representatives of China in Pakistan.Asad Qaisar said that he would ask the Chinese friends to open up their market for Pakistanis especially in the field of agriculture. He also praised the positive role of Senator Mushahid Hussain in the promotion of CPEC. Minister for Power Division Umar Ayub Khan, said that thanks to CPEC, Pakistan has become the gateway for energy and created jobs which has generated hope and optimism in Pakistan.He also termed “CPEC as the corner stone of Pakistan-China relations” and he also talked about the vision of the government for becoming the green and clean energy provider for Pakistan which will help reduce the price of energy. Responding to Senator Mushahid Hussain’s comments about the role of his grandfather, President Ayub Khan in building Pakistan-China friendship, Umar Ayub said that 60 years ago, President Ayub Khan envisaged that Pakistan’s future was linked with China. Umar Ayub appreciated Power-China’s efforts for Pakistan’s energy independence.Chairman of Pakistan China Institute Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed thanked the Power-China for launching the first major CPEC power project at Port Qasim which gave employment opportunity to thousands and through their clean super critical technology, they are ensuring steps to safeguard the environment.Talking about his recent visit to the Port Qasim Power Plant, Mushahid Hussain said that the smoke emitted from Port Qasim Power Plant is white in colour unlike the other power plants smoke nearby whose is dark, which shows the effect on the environment. He said that Power-China had empowered Pakistan’s energy independence and the long standing issue of chronic energy shortages and loadshedding had been controlled. He also termed CPEC as a guarantor for a better tomorrow and CPEC like Kashmir and nuclear issues, was above party lines.Ambassador of China in Pakistan Yao Jing focused on the Phase-II of CPEC saying that Phase-I is already a “success story”. He also lauded the strong bonds of friendship between Pakistan and China.Chairman Parliamentary Committee on CPEC Sher Ali Arbab, MNA referred to the proactive efforts of his committee to work in a bipartisan manner to promote CPEC and he said that his committee included representatives from both the government and the opposition.The Chief Executive of Power-China, Du Chunguo and Sun Jianli thanked the government of Pakistan and Pakistan China Institute for this initiative and said that Power-China’s role in Pakistan’s energy development was strategic and they were also going to pursue other projects in Pakistan as well.On the occasion, the Power-China donated computers to the “House of Light” school in the suburb of Islamabad which is a school for poor rural children. The donation was received with appreciation by the representative of “House of Light” School, Ms. Shahla Rafi.A video of the Port Qasim Power Plant was also shown on this occasion and Speaker of the NA unveiled Power-China’s “Pakistan Sustainable Development Report” as well as two research reports prepared by the Pakistan China Institute on the Port Qasim Power Plant, on Exploring Socio-Economic Impact and the other on Exploring Environment effects.

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