ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday that $30 billion projects had been implemented under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Addressing academics from Peking University in China prior to the 6th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting scheduled for Thursday, the minister said CPEC was the biggest project under China’s One-Belt One-Road initiative that would unite the entire region.

He said that with the addition of new projects in the JCC meeting, investment in CPEC would increase. He said CPEC-related industrial cooperation would kickstart an economic revolution in Pakistan and the economic zones would generate investment and employment opportunities.

He said eight industrial zones would be set up in all provinces, adding that there was a recommendation for two zones in Balochistan, including the Gwadar free zone. For the security of Chinese companies working on CPEC, a new security force had been formed, he said.

Mr Iqbal said Pakistan and China would together defeat all anti-CPEC forces, adding that participation of high-level officials from the provinces in the JCC meeting would symbolise national unity and commitment.

“The involvement of provinces in the JCC with full spirit will help complete the CPEC projects on a fast pace.”

He said the education, agriculture and tourism sectors would eventually grow through long-term programmes.

The minister said both countries’ universities should work together to promote education and people-to-people contacts would also be developed through the CPEC.

He said various projects of cooperation between Pakistani and Chinese media industry were also under consideration.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, along with three members of his cabinet and senior officers, left for China to attend CPEC-related meetings.

Our Staff Reporter adds from Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will not be attending a crucial meeting on the CPEC scheduled to be held in Beijing on Dec 29.

Ahsan Iqbal along with senior federal officials and some leaders of other provinces, including Balochistan Chief Minister Sardar Sanaullah Khan Zehri, have left for China to attend the moot.

Mr Sharif cancelled his visit on Monday evening but did not make public the reason for the last minute decision.

The opposition has been criticising the Punjab chief minister’s frequent trips to China, as part of the federal government’s delegations regarding the CPEC.

An official of the provincial government told Dawn that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had left for Beijing on Monday.

However, he added, it was not clear whether the KP chief minister would attend CPEC-related meetings or not.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2016