QUETTA: President Mamnoon Hussain said that Pak-China Economic Corridor was a monument of this century, which would open doors of progress and prosperity, especially for Balochistan.
He was speaking to stakeholders including parliamentarians, political and tribal elders, professors, doctors, lawyers and civil society representatives at Governor House.
He said that Pak-China Economic Corridor would start from Kashghar, China and reach Gwadar and Karachi. “A railway track will also be laid along the 4,000 kilometers long road of the project,” he said. Lahore-Karachi Motorway, Hazara Motorway, Gwadar Deep Sea Port and Gwadar International Port would be parts of Pak-China Economic Corridor, he added.
Mamnoon said the people of Balochistan would be the biggest beneficiary of the corridor.
President said that the incumbent government has launched several power generation projects including three atomic power production plants. He said that 2,000 MW electricity would be injected in national grid system in 2015 and 3,700 MW in 2016, adding that the national grid system would also receive 7,000 MW electricity in 2017 and 4,000 MW in 2018. He said that the country would rid of power load shedding by 2018.
Balochistan, he said, was rich in natural resources and federal government was ready to extend its full cooperation to the provincial government to get benefit from these resources. He, however, emphasized the need to take adequate measures to restore peace in Balochistan, saying, several foreign companies wanted to invest in our region but they had concerns over law and order situation.
Mamnoon said that the government and the military have jointly resolved to eliminate terrorism on permanent basis. He said that the government has invited angry youth of the province to sit on table for peace talks and their issues would be resolved on priority. He said the elements involved in terrorism were misguided people who have nothing to do with Islam.
He said the formation of special courts was need of hour to deal with cases pertaining to terrorism. “I believe that judges of the special courts would perform their duties sincerely and honestly,” he said.
He said after law and order the second biggest menace, being faced by the country was corruption. “About 700 to 1,000 billion rupees were misappropriated in our country during last seven to eight years.
He, however, said that no financial scam was reported during last one and half year tenure of the incumbent government. “Prime Minister Nawaz’s government has overcome menace of corruption at satisfied level as it has been enjoying an honest, capable and skilled team including Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar and others,” he added.
He said that Saudi Arabia, China and Turkey have also extended their full cooperation to Pakistan to achieve goals of development.
The parliamentarians and other stakeholders who called on President Mamnoon Hussain included Provincial Minister Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai, former caretaker chief minister Nawab Ghaus Bakhsh Barozai, Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Provincial Minister Abdul Raheem Ziaratwal, PML-N eader Mir Asim Kurd, PML-Q leader Anwarul Haque Kakar, Vice Chancellor Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Eng. Farooq Bazai, Principal Bolan Medical College (BMC) Quetta, Dr. Saadat Khan, PkMAP leader, Usman Kakar, senior lawyer, Kamran Murtaza, civil society representative Surayya Allah Din, PkMAP leader Obaidullah Khan Babat and others.
