CPEC to promote economic integration, regional connectivity: Chairman BoI

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Board of Investment Dr. Miftah Ismail has said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would promote economic integration and regional connectivity for development and prosperity in the region.

"All the provinces and regions have shared opportunity for infrastructural development and industrial growth which provides employment opportunities and prosperity in the country," he said while speaking at a 3-day 19th Sustainable Development Conference on theme of "Sustainable Development: Envisaging the Future Together, organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here at a local hotel the other day.

He said after completion of CPEC, $150 billion investment would be brought by Chinese investors in Pakistan.

He said work also underway on Tukmanistan Afghanistan Pakistan India (TAPI) gas Pipeline while CASA 1000 also focussed to meet need of energy in the country.

Chairman BoI said in post CPEC scenario,"We would be required skilled manpower to work in various industries in all provinces of the country.

The government keenly focus to remove regional disparity and provide equal development in all provinces, especially remote regions.

Miftaf Ismail said that Balohistan would get more benefits from CPEC and Gwadar port would play pivotal role for providing connectivity and enhance the regional trade opportunities.

Earlier, speaking at the inaugural session of the conference, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz called for South-South collaboration for regional peace, prosperity in the region.

He highlighted the importance of regional and international cooperation for implementation of newly-set targets of SDGs.

He proposed more investment, adoption of new technologies, capacity building and identification of barriers to achieve the targets of SDGs and Vision 2025 of Pakistan.

While chairing the inaugural session of conference, Federal Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid said government's Vision 2025 has seven pillars and 25 goals and these goals are fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Zahid Hamid said implementation of the development agenda was possible with global and regional cooperation, and CPEC was an example of this cooperation.

Executive Director, SDPI Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri said this conference provides a platform to evaluate and learn, what we have done wrong to avoid these mistakes in future.

He added, "we have gathered here to reiterate and reaffirm our commitment to a shared and sustainable future."

He stressed on the importance of cooperation for the development and said that today challenges are global and can't be resolved individually.