PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said the proposed projects of Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway, Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) and Tank Zam Dam are of vital importance for agricultural and industrial development in the province, so they should be included in the CPEC portfolio.

“The inclusion of these projects in the CPEC framework is the top most priority of the provincial government,” the chief minister told a meeting regarding CPEC projects here on Friday. Besides CPEC Authority chairman retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, the meeting was also attended by additional chief secretary Shakeel Qadir, administrative secretaries and other high-ups of the relevant provincial departments.

The participants reviewed progress on the projects under way in the province under CPEC framework and discussed proposals to include new mega projects in the CPEC portfolio, according to a statement issued here.

The chief minister said Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway project would not only boost trade activities at local level but would also play an important role to promote international trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.

He said the CRBC on completion would prove to be a milestone stone to make the province self-sufficient in agricultural products.The meeting was briefed about the progress on the establishment of Rashakai Economic Zone and it was informed that work is in progress on basic infrastructure including gas and electricity supply and construction of access roads adding that six kilometers long pipelines had been laid to provide gas to the Economic zone whereas work on the construction of access road is near to completion.

Reviews progress on corridor-related work

The meeting was further informed that so far 1800 application had been received from local and foreign investors for setting up industries in the economic zone. CPEC Authority chairman retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa termed the progress on Rashakai Economic Zone satisfactory and stressed the need to further expedite it.

Matters related to the inclusion of the proposed Daraban Special Economic Zone in CPEC portfolio also came under discussion in the meeting and the meeting was informed that feasibility of the project would be completed in next three weeks time period.

The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to prepare the business plan of the project in the minimum possible time and share with CPEC authority for further process.

The participants agreed to establish a model agri farm in the province under CPEC project with the authorities told to identify suitable area for the purpose.

The chief minister also proposed a project for setting up pharmaceutical industry in Tirah of district Khyber under CPEC project and directed the relevant quarters to prepare a proposal for it.

The meeting also discussed the possibilities of inclusion of various other projects of tourism, communications and health sector in CPEC project.

Mr Mahmood highlighted the need to include the proposed projects of four big regional level hospitals in the CPEC framework.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021