ISLAMABAD: In what appeared to be an attempt to set aside reservations of smaller provinces over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said Balochistan would be a major beneficiary of the $51.5 billion, Radio Pakistan reported.

Chairing a meeting of PML-N's central executive committee in he capital, the premier said that the government was striving hard to overcome all challenges including terrorism and energy shortfall.

The PM's statements come days after opposition lawmakers raised concerns that smaller provinces were being neglected under the CPEC during a joint session of parliament.

The premier claimed that more than 10,000 MegaWatt (MW) of electricity would be added to the national grid by 2018 and briefed the meeting on various power initiatives being undertaken.

He said that land had been acquired for the Diamer-Bhasha dam, a power project that has been 30 years in the making. The government, he said, has also started working on the development of coal-fired power in Thar. "Mining has started in Thar and coal-based power plants are being installed there."

A subsidy would be provided for the installation of solar tubewells in Balochistan, the prime minister told the meeting, adding that the government would compensate farmers for losses they have suffered due to the low price of agricultural goods in the international market.

The PM also announced that motorways and highways worth Rs1 trillion are being constructed in the country. "We are also working on social sector development, and hospitals in different cities will be built within the next 18 months," he said.

The prime minister added that economy has been strengthened because of effective policies.

He added that the Karachi operation was initiated with the consultation of all the stakeholders and is yielding positive results.

Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan is committed to the Kashmir cause. "No power in the world can stop us from supporting the freedom struggle of Kashmiris," he said."India is mistaken if it considers that a freedom fight can be equated with terrorism."