Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal addressed at the 1st All Pakistan Chambers and Associations Seminar on CPEC held in Gwadar, Baluchistan on April 7, 2017.
The seminar was attended by all the Business & Commerce Chambers of Pakistan, government officials, local community and other major stakeholders.
Minister Iqbal noted that CPEC is a fusion of China’s vision of “One Belt and One Road” & Pakistan’s Vision 2025. Minister Iqbal stated that the CPEC will allow Pakistan to become a hub of socioeconomic activity between Asia, Central Asia & South Asia.
Iqbal apprised the audience that inter and intra-region connectivity provided by CPEC makes it a fate changer for everyone because connectivity ensures greater trade, socioeconomic activity and general welfare.
Minister Iqbal informed that CPEC project will result in breaking the two bottlenecks faced by Pakistan’s economy: lack of infrastructure & energy shortage. Minister Iqbal termed infrastructure and energy as the two essential pre-requisites of development and questioned the knowledge of critics who object to infrastructure investments in CPEC.
Minister Iqbal further explained CPEC by breaking it down into four components: (i) Infrastructure Projects; ii) Energy Projects; iii) Gawadar Port; iv) industrial and economic zones. Minister Iqbal stated that historical investments are made in infrastructure which has led to the upcountry connectivity of Gwadar for the first time. Minister Iqbal praised the sacrifice of 44 FWO workers who gave their lives but did not allow the negative forces to sabotage the infrastructure projects in Balochistan.
Minister Iqbal categorically squashed all noises suggesting that CPEC will lead to a loss of domestic business or employment. Minister Iqbal stated that proposed industrial and economic zones under CPEC are efforts to leverage Pakistan’s comparative advantage in labour to attract the relocating business of China in light engineering and labour Intensive Industry which can lead to Initiation of a new age of industrialisation in Pakistan.
Minister Iqbal stated that 85 Million Jobs are up for grabs in China due to the relocation of Chinese business who have lost their competitive advantage because of rising costs of operation in China, CPEC presents an opportunity to Pakistan to grab the major share of the available jobs which can help employ the unemployed surplus labour.
Minister Iqbal concluded his address with a hope that CPEC can be materialised as a tool of inclusive growth where the people of Pakistan can be the subjects of the development process.
