PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fuad Ishaq has termed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a guarantee for regional development and prosperity, and emphasised the need for timely completion of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) being constructed under the multibillion dollar project.

Mr Ishaq made these remarks during a visit to the China Window (Chinese Culture Centre) here, according to a press release issued on Monday.

Fuad Ishaq hoped the country’s exports would get further boost with the Chinese investment in SEZs.

“Timely completion of SEZs would generate economic activities and employment opportunities and lead the national economy toward stabilisation,” the SCCI chief asserted.

Accompanied by SCCI secretary general Sajjad Aziz, the chamber president said China-Pakistan relations had further strengthened with the passage of time.

He visited various galleries in the Chinese Culture Centre, and signed on the friendship wall.

Later, talking to mediapersons, the SCCI chief said the Belt and Road Initiative Forum held in Beijing recently provided a chance to the leaders of different countries to debate the benefits and fruits of the project, but also opened a new chapter of partnership for more than 140 countries.

He said during his visit to China, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar put Pakistan’s stance before the world in an efficient manner.

Fuad Ishaq was of the view that signing of the Main Line-1 project would initiate a new era of economic progress in Pakistan.

The chamber president said CPEC had entered a new phase of execution to uplift Pakistan’s different sectors, including mining, information technology and agriculture.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2023