ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal alleged on Thursday that the PTI government created resentment among the youth of Balochistan during its tenure by ignoring the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project (CPEC).

Speaking to media, the planning minister termed the four years of the PTI government an “era of waste projects”. He said that anti-state elements managed to “manipulate” the local youth amid lack of development under the umbrella of the CPEC.

He added key projects related to energy and water were ignored by the PTI during its rule.

According to Mr Iqbal, the delays in finalisation of the mega development scheme, of which Balochistan’s Gwadar port is a flagship project, resulted in discontent among the local population as their areas were the key beneficiaries of the CPEC projects.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2022