QUETTA: Balochistan Governor retired Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai has said that the provincial government fully supports the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and it was also fully committed to taking the mega project forward.

Speaking at a function arranged here on Sunday night by the Pakistan-China Institute and Friends of Silk Road, the governor said Balochistan had benefited greatly from the CPEC and Chinese investment.

“Balochistan and Gwadar are going to change the destiny of the people of this backward province,” Mr Yasinzai said, adding that the CPEC had been yielding equal benefits for all provinces. He said future of Silk Road Friends would be brighter in the region.

Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad Lijian Zhao, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and the chief executive of the Pakistan-China Institute also spoke on the occasion.

Chinese diplomat says calling it a Punjab-China project is wrong

Governor Yasinzai said that power projects being launched under the CPEC would solve the problem of energy’s shortage in Pakistan and play a role in driving the country towards progress.

“As governor of the province, I plan to coordinate closely with our Chinese partners to promote regional connectivity and connect the CPEC and Balochistan with neighbouring countries,” he said, adding that he was confident that Pakistan was prepared to harvest economic benefit of the CPEC.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Lijian Zhao said that Pakistan and China had laid down the foundation of economic development in Pakistan. He said six economic zones had been set up.

“Calling the CPEC a Punjab-China project is wrong because it has been turning into a China-Balochistan economic project,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2019