China and Pakistan will defeat all anti-CPEC forces: minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that China and Pakistan will together defeat all forces against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The federal minister is leading the Pakistani delegation to the sixth meeting of Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of CPEC to be held in Beijing on Thursday. The chief ministers of all provinces are expected to attend the meeting on the invitation of Federal Government.

The Chinese side will be head by the Vice Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission. The meeting will review progress of various projects of CPEC and new projects will be discussed.

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He said that projects worth $30 billion have been implemented under CPEC, and the investment will further increase with the addition of new projects in the JCC meeting.

The minister expressed hope that CPEC related industrial cooperation will initiate an economic revolution in Pakistan as it will generate investment and employment opportunities for the country.

The minister revealed that eight industrial zones will be set up in all provinces, and there is the recommendation of two economic zones in Balochistan.

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“The involvement of provinces in JCC with full spirit will help to complete the CPEC projects on fast pace,” said the minister.

He maintained that long-term projects will provide growth in education, agriculture and tourism sectors.