December 18, 2019 (MLN): The Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiative has issued a clarification, stating that it fully supports the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor (KPEC) project.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the Planning Division said that KPEC is a vital link in the road connectivity from Karachi to Dushanbe via the Khyber Pass as envisaged in CAREC Corridor 5.
Like all other projects, this underwent careful scrutiny at the Planning Commission. There were multiple discussions with the sponsors, National Highway Authority and Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on technical and economic aspects of the project.
‘Based on satisfactory outcome of these deliberations, including at the Central Development Working Party (CDWP), the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) granted approval for the project’ the press release stated.
‘Recent social media and a newspaper report are not an accurate reflection of these deliberations or the final decision. The focus going forward is a timely implementation of the project so that the benefits of improved road connectivity, reduced travel time and creation of up to 100,000 jobs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are achieved. This project would also integrate the merged areas of erstwhile FATA into national communication and economic connectivity’ it added.
