ISLAMABAD: Members of Senate Committee on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have expressed their reservations on project and said that government is hiding some details of the project from the committee and the public.
Members of the Senate Committee said that it is the 5th meeting of committee and it is generally thought that lack of communication, ignorance and lack of knowledge is pulling this important project backwards and the government is also giving irresponsible feedback.
It is now necessary to call a meeting with the prime minster to discuss the ongoing issues in which NHA, P&D and other ministries concern must be invited. The meeting of Senate Special Committee on CPEC took placed in Parliament House, under the chairmanship of Senator Taj Haider. The committee asked questions about different sections of the agreed routes, specification of these sections compared with specific sections being build on the eastern route and completion of agreed route along with railways routes.
Senator Saraj-ul-Haq expressed his observations and said “we need a joint committee along with four chief ministers to understand the consequences and issues of CPEC.” All MOU’s and JCC (Joint Coordination Committee) minutes should be submitted to the Senate and National Assembly so that all misunderstandings and conflicts should be resolved.
All four chief ministers, including representatives from Gilgit-Baltistan must be apart of joint committee to eradicate reservations. Senator Farhatullah Babar also expressed his views and said that the Joint Coordination Committee was created on 13 August 2013. Under the prime minster, all parties conference accepted suggestions of all parties and it was duty of JCC to follow and implement all the work which was proposed in APC. Senators were of the view that all MOU’s have to be put in front of the committee.
The committee directed both ministries to attend next minting of special committee. Balochistan Minster for Education said there is no development on CPEC project in our province. Seventy eight projects are related to Balochistan but unfortunately there is no development. He said that the provincial government is ready to help federal government but federal government is delaying the project.
Senators said that Balochistan has huge water crisis and people used to steal water from different homes. In response to the Senators views and suggestions the convener of the Special Committee Senator Taj Haider said we are going to make a report on the issue and we will put our report in House soon.Members also asked does P&D formulate mechanism and industrial policy regarding to Chinese import of crude oil via CPEC routes.
