ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Saturday that the first phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would be completed by 2018.

The production of 10,000MW of energy under CPEC would help overcome the energy crisis as well as upgrade the existing road network of the country especially western route through construction of missing links.

In a statement on CPEC, Mr Ahsan said that the road network will provide a safest and shortest passage of cargo from Gwadar Port to upcountry for their onward movement to China’s western provinces.

The minister said both the countries were in constant touch through forums under the CPEC framework and were moving ahead smoothly and promptly to complete CPEC projects.

He said that both sides realised the importance of CPEC for their own interests and for the benefit of the entire region to integrate it economically for social and economic uplift of three billion people.

He said that there is unanimity in file and ranks of Pakistani society that CPEC is a historical opportunity for sustained economic development and inclusive prosperity of the country and we must capitalise on it through a united approach.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2016