CPEC to focus on economic growth in future projects

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China, in the latest meeting regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), have agreed to shift the mega project’s focus from infrastructure development – barring the $9 billion Mainline-1 projects – to work on economic progression in future projects.

Decisions to expand the CPEC scope to copper, gold, oil, gas and affordable housing sectors were taken in CPEC’s 9^th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting, which was co-chaired by Planning Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar and National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Vice-Chairman Ning Jizhe.

“The JCC meeting was fruitful, discussions successful and the agreed framework is promising,” said Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing while addressing a joint press conference along with the planning minister.

Bakhtiar said he was hopeful about the new framework opening up new employment avenues for Pakistan.

“If we could put all energies and Pakistan could provide an enabling environment, the newly agreed framework has the potential to transform Pakistan from low-income to a middle-income country in the next five to six years,” he said.

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