CPEC guaranteed a bright future, economic security and prosperity of Pakistan: Mushahid Hussain

Date : 15-10-2017

Lahore: The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and Chairman Pakistan-China Institute Senator Syed Mushahid Hussain, said on Saturday that the project guaranteed a bright future, economic security and prosperity of Pakistan.

He was speaking at a seminar titled “CPEC: Prospects of Pakistan’s Prosperity and Economic Stability”’, organised by Nazaria-e-Pakistan Trust (NPT) here at the NPT office.

A written message on behalf of the NPT chairman was also read out on the occasion.

Mushahid said anti-Pakistan forces were bent upon sabotaging the project and Pakistanis would have to pursue it like they did the attaining of nuclear technology.

CPEC would be a game-changer for Pakistan, South Asia and Middle East, he added.

He said the military leadership would defeat the anti-CPEC intrigues of the elements active against the project.

He said CPEC was the highest-value project ever agreed between two countries as it is worth $50 billion (Dh183 billion) and is set to be completed by 2030.

“It is a national strategic project and cannot be attributed to an individual, a political party or a province,” he added.

He recalled that the Quaid-e-Azam had once predicted to a foreign journalist that Pakistan would be a centre stage of world politics in future. His vision had been materialised in the form of CPEC, he added.

Senator Mushahid said Pakistan had brought China closer to the US in 1970. He appreciated the unstinting support of China to Pakistan and told the audience that China received not a single penny against the military weapons it provided to Pakistan from 1965 to 1980.

Pakistan had reciprocated the friendship gesture equally on all fronts.

He said that the Chinese leadership had brought 700 million Chinese out of poverty in the last 25 years, and the 21st century belongs to Asia. Mushahid said that CPEC would play a pivotal role in development of infrastructure, energy projects, Gawadar Port and Special Economic Zones in Pakistan, asserting that the country had started mining in the area of Thar after the start of CPEC projects.

“Today some 22,000 Pakistani students are studying in Chinese universities. China is providing scholarships to 5,000 students,” he added.

NPT vice-chairman Dr Rafique Ahmed Tarar presented him a memento at the end of the seminar, while NPT Secretary General Shahid Rasheed delivered the vote of thanks.