PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Thursday asked investors from China and other countries to benefit from the tremendous investment opportunities in the province and said his government would provide them with all-out support.

He was addressing a ceremony held at China’s Cultural Centre, China Window, here to mark the 71st National Day of People’s Republic of China, said an official statement.

The chief minister praised China for always standing by Pakistan in difficult times and said the establishment of China Window in Peshawar was a great initiative on part of China.

He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was a good example of Sino-Pak friendship and it would have great impact not only on the bilateral relations but also on the overall socio-economic development of the region.

Chinese national day celebrated

Mr Mahmood said CPEC was not just a route and instead, multiple projects were being carried out under its umbrella.

He said development projects in agriculture, tourism, industries, energy and social welfare sectors were also part of the CPEC developmental portfolio.

“In the context of the CPEC, we are moving forward under a workable plan,” he said.

The chief minister said the government, in order to benefits from CPEC in real sense, was according a special focus to the improvement of communication network and development of industrial infrastructure in the province.

He said development agreement on Rashakai Special Economic Zone had been signed and work on the project would begin soon. Mr Mahmood said his government was working on a number of economic zones in the province.

He said the Draban Economic Zone over 3,125 acres of land would be proposed for inclusion in the CPEC projects in the upcoming meeting of the joint working committee.

“This will be the largest economic zone of the province, which is to help boost the local economy by creating employment opportunities,” he said.

Highlighting the ongoing projects in the communication sector, the chief minister said Phase-I of the Swat Motorway Project had been completed, whereas work on Phase-II of the project would begin by January next year.

He said the construction of the Dir-Chitral Expressway was also part of the plan, while work on the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor would begin soon.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2020