RAWALPINDI: “We recognise CPEC as a game changer and we urge the government to focus on the 4th part of CPEC plan, which is Industrial Zones Development.” The government of Pakistan should negotiate with the Chinese government to evolve a policy to have joint ventures between Pakistan and China for long lasting win-win cooperation.
The joint ventures between Chinese and Pakistani companies will increase the ownership of the key stakeholders. “The Labour-intensive industry from China under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) shall be relocated in Pakistan to boost the local employment”. Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI) President Raja Amer Iqbal made these remarks while addressing a press conference after the conclusion session of All Pakistan Chamber Presidents Committee meeting on “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The RCCI president said that the CPEC is the flagship project of multi-billion dollar One belt one road (OBOR) and the success of this key mega project will bring the economic revolution in the country and the region.
However, the agreements must be followed by the land of law and benefit of Pakistani trader, investors, and industrialists must be kept on priority. CPEC must not fall to smuggling as we observed in Afghan Transit Trade route. We demand a strong security system to monitor exchange of goods via CPEC route, he added. “We want CPEC smuggling free corridor”, said RCCI President .
He demanded that 85% local labour must be used in the CPEC projects and urge government to bring skilled labor as par Chinese. The more we have local ownership in the projects the more it will be successful, he added. Representatives from board of Investment, presidents from more than 33 chambers including Lahore, Hazara, haripur, gilgit, Sialkot and Chakwal, Senior leadership of RCCI, members of the executive committee and a large number of traders attended the session.
