Khattak writes to Ahsan Iqbal for removing CPEC ambiguities

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has written a letter federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal seeking clarifications about the projects to be executed under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The letter, provided to the media, reads as follows:

“Reference you D.O. No. 2 (1) CPEC/PD&R/2013 dated 31st March 20`16 for your written commitment communicated through the aforementioned letter. However, there are certain ambiguities in the letter under reference which need to be removed on priority basis for removing trust deficit between the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal government.

“The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, therefore, requests the following clarification.

“The letter under reference requires more clarity on our request for ensuring that all the requisite amenities like electricity, telephone lines, Fiber Optics, Gas Pipelines, LNG, Railway Line and all other relevant services will be provided by the federal government as soon as the land is made available for the aforesaid industrial Parks. The federal government must commit with more clarity to provide these amenities in these industrial parks under CPEC.

“Regarding inclusion of the following as a component of western corridor, no clear commitment has been made.

“Circular railway line from Peshawar to Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda and back to Peshawar

“Western Railway track from D.I. Khan to Peshawar, Motorway from Dera Ismail Khan to Peshawar, Motorway from Karak to Taxila via Kohat-Jund.

“Similarly, a more firm commitment is desired regarding associating a representative of the provincial government with CPEC directorate Islamabad on full time basis. The provincial government wants its permanent representative may be placed in the CPEC directorate in Islamabad and in other committees/working groups.

“It is further requested that details of funds allocation along with source of funding may be communicated as soon as possible. I would therefore request for your personal interest in the matter. It would be appreciated if a firm and unambiguous commitment is shown on the above reservations and communicated at the earliest as it will go a long way in removing the trust deficit and apprehensions of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and provincial government.”