Pakistan High Commissioner to United Kingdom (UK) Syed Ibne Abbas on Tuesday evening terming China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a gift for the entire region called upon foreign investors including those in UK to take optimum advantage of the business and investment opportunities being offered in Pakistan, especially in the wake of CPEC.
He stated this while addressing the meeting of All Parties Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Belt Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC here at Macmillan Room, Portcullis House of Common Westminster last evening.
The meeting was addressed among others by Kevin Hollinrake MP, High Commissioner of Pakistan to UK Syed Ibne Abbas, EX Senator and former Information Minister Javed Jabbar, Hon. Alderman Mushataq Lasharie CBE, Chairwomen APPG on TWS, Liz Twist MP, Aftab Siddiqui, Cindy Berman, and former UK High Commissioner to Pakistan Sir Mark Lyall Grant.
The speakers on the occasion said that CPEC is a game changer and is a pioneering initiative of unprecedented scope and scale and has the capacity and potential to transform Pakistan into a developed nation, a regional economic hub and a significant player in the global economy.
CPEC, they said also has major implications for other regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, (UAE) , Oman, , the Central Asian Republics (CARs), Russia and even for those neighboring countries that at a time a negative or skeptical attitude toward it.
They said that CPEC would usher in a new era of progress and prosperity and it would not only benefit entire Pakistan but also contribute to the regional peace, stability and prosperity. CPEC is a game changer which can bring about gigantic investment and a bunch of business opportunities in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion Syed Ibn-e-Abbas said that Pakistan and China enjoy excellent friendly relations and bonds and both have transformed these ties into strong economic relations.
He said CPEC would not only benefit Pakistan but help usher in a new era of economic prosperity in the entire Asian region and its people. He called upon the British investors to take benefit from the investment opportunities in Pakistan being offered especially in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the CPEC projects.
He said that Pakistan is a big country with a population of 207 million people majority of them are young and hardworking adding said that Pakistan and China have no hidden agenda but the developing the region through CPEC.
He thanked APPG for organizing this meeting on BRI and CPEC. Former Senator Javed Jabbar said that CPEC is part of Belt Road Initiative (BRI) adding said that Pakistan and China have a remarkable relationship.
He said that Pakistan was the first Muslim country to recognize China .He also highlighted the historical background of Pakistan China relationship. He expressed the hope that completion of CPEC would help bring regional stability, peace and global prosperity.
The other speakers hoped that CPEC is already generating significant employment opportunities for local workers, who predominated in all projects. Moreover, they said that skills training and technology transfer are provided by the Chinese side especially in Gawadar Balochistan besides providing scholarships to the Pakistani students in China.
They said that CPEC is a national project and would benefit all sections of the society in the country and particular benefits would accrue to hitherto under-developed and marginalized areas including Balochistan, KPK and Gilgit Baltistan.
