ISLAMABAD: The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had become a reality with the departure of the first trade cargo from Gwadar Port to international destinations, Khaleej Times reported.
According to the newspaper, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said "The arrival of the first trade convoy at Gwadar Port `a watershed event', as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project had materialized, marking the dawn of immense trade and commerce opportunities for the whole region".
Addressing a ceremony marking the departure of the first major trade cargo from Gwadar Port on last Sunday, the Prime Minister said Pakistan was a proud partner of China and added that his government would leave no stone unturned to complete all development projects under the umbrella of CPEC on time.
He said the CPEC manifested the desire of the leadership of two countries for shared prosperity through a broader and solid cooperation, the paper added.
The prime minister lauded the Chinese President Xi for his vision of regional prosperity which coincided with Pakistan's vision of development, adding that the President Xi's vision of shared prosperity through greater connectivity was need of the hour in the conflict-ridden and increasingly polarized world.
The CPEC was the fusion of Chinese President's concept of `one belt-one-road' project which aims to integrate trade and commerce activities of various regional countries through enhanced connectivity, thus transforming Pakistan into a major hub of trade and commerce, he added.
The prime minister reiterated that the CPEC was going to be a reality and would open a world of opportunities for the countries and the region.
Terming the Gwadar Port a `jewel in the CPEC crown', he expressed the confidence that due to its geo-strategic location, it would play a pivotal role in future trade and cargo activities.
He said the vision of exclusive and sustained development must reach to those who had been mired in poverty and backwardness and in that regard the CPEC would provide benefits to the all the under-developed areas of the country, including Balochistan, KPK, Fata, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said that no area of the country would be deprived of the fruits of prosperity from various CPEC development projects.
He expressed the hope that with the execution of various development projects, bilateral relations between China and Pakistan would reach further heights.
"CPEC is for entire Pakistan and no region or province will be left out of it," Sharif said.
Khaleej Times further reported that the newly-constructed roads in Balochistan have opened up new areas that were inaccessible and deprived of development... these developments have brought peace to a volatile region. The Prime Minister said "The newly-constructed roads in Balochistan have opened up new areas that were inaccessible and deprived of development... and have brought peace to a volatile region.
The government of Balochistan and the army have been successful in making the local population a stakeholder in development, the paper added.
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