ISLAMABAD: Chairman Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed Monday told a GB Assembly delegation that Gilgit-Baltistan was very much part of the CPEC as it was the gateway into Pakistan for China from its province of Xinjiang.
He was talking to a 19-member delegation of GB Assembly representing five political parties from both the government and opposition, led by Speaker Fida Nashad here at the Parliament House.
In the two-hour meeting, which included a lunch hosted by Senator Mushahid for the visiting members of the GB Assembly, Mushahid Hussain underlined that the CPEC was a national, strategic project spanning 15 years. This project was above any person, parties, province or even government and all the provinces and regions for Pakistan would benefit through CPEC.
He said that Gilgit-Baltistan had not only strategic importance but also it had tremendous economic potential for the whole region. The hydro power resources of Gilgit-Baltistan as well as infrastructure, tourism could change the face of the region as well as Pakistan as a whole.
He said the GB provided connectivity not only to China but also a connectivity to Central Asia through Tajikistan.
The delegation expressed concern and reservations over what they said have not been included in the CPEC by the government to which Senator Mushahid Hussain responded that the Parliamentary Committee had already taken the initiative to invite representative of the GB government to every meeting of the committee as a special invitee after his own meeting with GB Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman.
Senator Mushahid said that at a high level consultation convened by the Prime Minister on January 15, it was decided to constitute a high level national steering committee headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, which included the GB Chief Minister as well along with four provincial chief ministers.
The members expressed their appreciation to the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC and its Chairman for including them in deliberations in CPEC and invited the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC to visit Gilgit-Baltistan in this regard.
Senator Mushahid Hussain accepted the invitation and said that their perspective would be included in the report of the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC.
He said the committee represented all the political parties and provinces of Pakistan and Gilgit Baltistan perspective was of great importance not just for CPEC but also for strengthening the federation.
The members thanked the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for the hospitality and warm welcome accorded to them.
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