ISLAMABAD: Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal rejected on Tuesday rumours about a change in the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (PCEC) route and termed it a conspiracy against the major project.

Addressing a joint press conference with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, he said there was no change in the PCEC route, adding that it was a baseless propaganda launched to trigger controversy.

Also read: Corridor furore

The minister said that in first phase of the corridor, N-85 and M-8 projects would be completed in two years to connect the Gwadar port with upcountry. N-85 will connect Gwadar with Quetta-Killa Saifullah to Zhob and D.I. Khan to Peshawar for transportation of goods from Gwadar to Kashgar. M-8 will connect Gwadar with Awaran and Ratodero. The Gwadar port will be linked to Sukkur, Lahore and Karachi over the next two years.

Maulana Fazl called for completing the feasibility report and making it public to address people’s concern and dispel rumours being spread about the project.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2015

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