Special economic zones under CPEC to be functional soon: Bakhtiar

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Statistics Makhdum Khusro Bakhtiar has said the special economic zones under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would be made functional soon.

“The government is taking solid measures for progress and development of the country,” Khusro Bakhtiar said while talking to a local channel on Saturday.

He said the impact of those measures would be visible in the next two years. “Pakistan had entered into agreements with China pertaining to agricultural cooperation and industrial and socio-economic development,” he added.

He claimed that the past governments ruined administrative structure of the country and the incumbent government was taking measures for its overhauling.

The government had entered more than three agreements with China, he informed. “These include industrial development, agricultural cooperation and socio-economic development.”

He told that bridges over river Indus would complete this year.

The minister said power projects and water preservation projects will be launched in Rahim Yar Khan this year.

Couple of weeks ago, Bakhtiar had said China would release $1bn grant for less privileged areas in the country.

Khusro Bakhtiar said that the government would take benefit from Chinese model to eliminate poverty from the country. He said that China would also invest in petrochemical sector.

He had said that special economic zones under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would be made functional soon. He said that the government would take measures to boost agriculture sector and would reduce import.