RAWALPINDI: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will bring Pakistan into the global economic mainstream, said Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) joint director Dr Safdar A. Sohail.

Speaking at a consultative workshop on CPEC arranged at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Dr Sohail highlighted opportunities and structural logjams in the utilisation of CPEC.

RCCI senior vice-president Saqib Rafiq, vice-president Mohammad Aqil Obaid, former president Amanullah Khan, members of the executive committee, officials from PIDE and a large number of traders attended the workshop.

Dr Sohail apprised the participants about the CPEC business opportunities and challenges and details about the major dimensions of the mega project.

He compared the foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows of Pakistan with the inflows of different neighbouring countries and shared the volume and cost of different projects under CPEC.

Senior research and evaluation specialist at the Ministry of Commerce, Tayyaba Batool, explained the diversification of exports of new products and new market scheme. She provided the details of the new products and the new markets in which Pakistan should export its products.

Earlier, the RCCI senior vice-president gave a brief summary of the chamber’s past, current and upcoming events and activities.

“The mega project is being termed a game changer for the economy of Pakistan. However, the true potential of the mega project should be utilized.”

He said due to the importance of CPEC the business community across the country needed to be engaged in the project.

Rawalpindi is one of the major cities lying in the northern part of CPEC and that is why there exists a huge potential for boosting trade and other business activities in the region, he added.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2016