Benefiting from CPEC’s 1st phase; engaged with China for next: PM

ISLAMABAD,  (laiba): Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday said that Pakistan was harvesting the benefits of first phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project and engaged with China for execution of next phase.

“We have already achieved the CPEC’s first phase and we are benefiting from its early harvest projects. We are entering the second phase. We do need more deliberations when it comes to the second phase,” the prime minister said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) during his visit to Davos to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Premier Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said that for second phase of CPEC, road and air connectivity around the industrialization projects were required.

“Both sides are engaged and we have developed a lot of connectivity – road, air and rest of connectivity corridor. We are benefiting from the ecosystem of doing trade with one another,” he remarked.

Responding to a question regarding his viewpoint about the Chinese economy, PM Kakar said, “I am always sanguine about it. There are 1.5 billion consumers and 1.5 billion producers… How can you divorce 1.5 billion people from 8 billion people? It has to remain connected.”

He said being a huge marketplace, both China and the world were interested in each other.

To a question about his government’s priorities, the prime minister highlighted the economic revival, the transformation of technology and taxation reforms.

He said Pakistan was on the middle ground amidst the discourse between Global North and South, and other conflicts in the region.

Domestically, he said, the government needed to earn more and spend less.

The prime minister said that Pakistan should remain focused on taking the advantage of opportunities in the region, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the relocation of Chinese industry.

He advocated the policy envisaging to encourage business and provide them electricity on competitive price to help the businesses produce competitive goods for export to the international market.

Prime Minister Kakar said the government was also focusing on the Special Economic Zones and formulating policies for the advantage of the the foreign direct investment.

He said divide between Global South and North needed to be bridged for mutual co-existence.

To yet another question, the prime minister said Pakistan was heading towards general elections and wished well for the contestants with a hope that they would have a plan for economic revival in their respective agendas.