QUETTA: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a game changing project not just for Pakistan but the entire region. It will bring an economic revolution along with foreign investments which will help Balochistan evolve into a modern developed province, said Balochistan Assembly Speaker Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani.

Mr Durrani said this while speaking at a conference on CPEC’s hidden dimensions organised by the Balochistan government, Balochistan Economic Forum (BEF) and Pakistan Institute of Management, on Wednesday.

According to the provincial assembly speaker, CPEC will create numerous job opportunities in Gwadar and other areas of the province for the people of Balochistan.

The consul general of China in Karachi, Balochistan Assembly’s Opposition Leader Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, BEF President Sardar Shaukat Aziz Popalzai and others also spoke at the conference.

“Balochistan is the gateway to this multi-billion dollar project which will boost Pakistan’s economy,” Ms Durrani said.

Referring the geographical importance of Balochistan, the provincial assembly speaker said that Balochistan was the biggest province in the country in terms of area but had the smallest population. “CPEC will change our province’s dilapidated picture,” she said, adding that Balochistan was emerging as the new economic frontier of Pakistan and would play a vital role in the country’s economic development.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2018