CPEC to provide dividends for centuries: PM

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would provide dividends for centuries to come in the shape of employment generation, industrial growth and connectivity. Speaking at a breakfast meeting arranged by the Pathfinder Group in Davos, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF), he said consolidation of democracy in Pakistan was a positive indicator and stressed all institutions should work hand-in hand for development and stability of Pakistan, a press release said.
The prime minister said Pakistan was privileged to be part of the visionary Chinese leaderships'' Belt and Road Initiative. The meeting was also attended by Pakistani businessmen, media representatives, friends of Pakistan from several nations. Abbasi said the PML-N government, on assuming power, faced major challenges of law and order, terrorism, energy shortage and an under-performing economy.
He said due to the hard work and commitment of government, law and order had improved considerably and restored investors'' confidence. "I met several business leaders here in Davos and all of them expressed a strong desire to invest and expand businesses in Pakistan," the prime minister said. Elaborating the success achieved in eliminating terrorism, he said Pakistan had fought the war against terrorism from its own resources with a heavy toll on human lives and substantial loss to the economy.
Pakistan had been hosting around three million Afghan refugees since long which was the longest and largest refuge provided anywhere around the globe. The world must acknowledge Pakistan''s efforts and sacrifices, he said. Regarding the progress made on energy front, he said Pakistan had surplus gas and overcome energy deficiency in a sustainable and efficient way. "We have diversified our energy mix and with inclusion of coal and gas instead of expensive conventional fuels," the prime minister said.
Pakistan had achieved high economic growth with low inflation and it was a positive scenario augmenting greater investor confidence, he said and added Pakistan had completed 1,700 kilometres of six-lane motorways under the CPEC, a target which many developed countries found hard to achieve. He said Gwadar port was operational and provided world class shipment and logistical facilities.
Meanwhile, the PM met Jean-Yves Charlier, Group CEO of VEON (operating under brand name Jazz in Pakistan) at the WEF. During the meeting, the PM appreciated VEON''s investment, performance, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in Pakistan including mobile learning and relief efforts rendered during natural disasters. He also acknowledged VEON''s investment in the training and development of its workforce and thanked the CEO for providing many Pakistanis the opportunity to work in a progressive and learning environment.
CEO VEON thanked the Prime Minister for the support provided by the Government in facilitating VEON''s operation in Pakistan and acknowledged Pakistan''s successful drive towards digitization. VEON fully supports the digital vision of the present government and remains committed to support it through innovative solutions, added the CEO.
VEON (Jazz) is Pakistan''s largest telecom service provider and the company has so far invested billions of dollars in Pakistan. PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Wednesday appreciated Uber for spearheading the model of a "sharing economy" and invited the global taxi company to partner with Pakistani banks and the Prime Minister''s Youth Programme to help drivers in financing vehicles for Uber. The PM was talking to Dara Khowsroshahi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uber Technologies Inc at the sidelines of WEF.
Minister of State for Information Technology M Anusha Rehman, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Ali Jehangir Siddiqui and senior government officials were also present during the meeting, a press release received here said. The prime minister and the Uber''s CEO discussed the avenues and opportunities regarding effective participation by Uber in Pakistan''s economy in a meaningful manner. PM Abbasi said Pakistani market held a lot of potential for the Uber, which could provide the commuters added value for money.
Uber Technologies Inc is a global technology company, operational in 633 cities. It launched operations in Pakistan in March 2016 and is operational in seven cities, providing income to 63,000 drivers, servicing 1.27 million riders. In addition, PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Wednesday invited Trina-Solar, a company that provides smart solar solutions, to establish a manufacturing plant for solar panels in Pakistan.
The Government of Pakistan would provide full support and tax incentives to encourage local manufacturing that would help in employment generation and provide an affordable alternative in the energy mix of the country, he added. The PM extended this invitation during the meeting with Jifan Gao, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Trina-Solar at WEF. The Trina-Solar chairman thanked the PM and stated that the company would seriously consider establishment of a local manufacturing solar panels'' plant. Trina-Solar delivers smart solar solutions, PV products, applications and services to promote global sustainable development.