Ahsan Iqbal succeeds in hammering out consensus on CPEC route

ISLAMABAD: It was minister for planning and development Ahsan Iqbal who worked tirelessly to evolve consensus among the political parties on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route.
Prior to the all parties conference chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday Ahsan Iqbal held a series of meeting with the leaders of all political parties to allay their concerns. Those he met included JUI (F) chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, senior leaders of the PTI Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr Shireen Mazari and Asad Omar, chief of PkMAP Mehmood Khan Achakzai and chief of Qaumi Watan Party Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao.
Sources said Ahsan Iqbal assured them that the chief ministers will be taken on board and working group will be established with representatives form all provinces to examine the sites for industrial parks/economic zones and prepare feasibility studies for presentation to the Joint Working Group in July 2015.
He assured Asfandyar Wali Khan that presently no new road is being constructed under CPEC but only the existing network of roads is being upgraded. He informed Asfanyar Wali Khan and Mehmood Khan Achackzai about the projects that would be initiated in KPK and Balochistan which include early harvest projects, Gwadar Eastbay Expressway, New Gwadar International Airport, Gwadar Projects (school, hospital, marine works, infrastructure, social sector projects) 660 MW coal-based project, Hub 300 MW coal-based project, Gwadar 600 MW solar project, and upgrading of railways and road network.
Minerals Processing Zones in Balochistan include Khuzdar (Chromite, Antimony, Chaghi (Chromite), Qila Saifullah(antimony, chromite), Sandak (gold, silver), Reko Diq(gold), Kalat (iron ore), Lasbela (Manganese), Gwadar (oil refinery), Muslim Bagh (chromite), Industrial Economic Zones/Parks in Quetta, Dostan, Gwadar, Khuzdar, Uthal, Hub, Dera Murad Jamali.
The mega projects in KPK include Early Harvest Projects KKH Phase-II(Thakot-Havelian), Havelian Dry Port, Fiber Optic Data Communication System (Khunjerab-Islamabad), 870 MW Hydro power project, Suki Kinari, Mansehra and Potential projects includes Swat Expressway, Hydro Projects Shogosin 132 MW Chitral, Balakot 300 MW, Shigokuch Dir 102 MW, etc), Chashma Right Bank Canal, Outer Ring Road , Peshawar.
Ahsan Iqbal said that CPEC-Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Potential Economic Zones/ Industrial Parks include Minerals Economic Processing Zones Dargai (Chromite), North Waziristan (Chromite), Kurram (Antimony), Waziristan (copper), Chitral (Antimony), Besham(iron ore, lead), Nizampur (iron ore), Mohmand (Marble), Industrial Economic Zones/Parks, Hattar, Gadoon, Ghazi, D I Khan, Jalozai, Nowshera, Banu, Chitral, Risalpur.
The Early Harvest Projects of Gilgit-Baltistan include KKH Fiber optic Data communication system (Khunjerab -Islamabad). The CPEC-Gilgit Baltistan Potential Economic Zones/Industrial Parks include Minerals Economic Processing Zones, Gilgit (copper, antimony), Diamer (iron ore), Gilgit (herbs, herbal medicines), Gilgit (handicraft), Gilgit (wood industry) and Industrial Economic Zones/Parks at Gilgit andf Sakardu.
For Sindh, he said, the projects include Thar, Port Qasim, Thatta power projects, power transmission lines and LNG pipelines, Peshawar-Karachi motorway while potential projects include water supply for Karachi city, mass transit system for Karachi and provision of reliable electricity to Karachi
while Potential Economic Zones/Industrial Parks in Sindh include Minerals Economic Processing Zones, Thar (coal), Lakra (coal), Industrial Economic Zones/Parks in Sukkur, Larkana, Karachi, Bin Qasim, Korangi Creek and Khairpur.
In Punjab early harvest projects include energy projects in Sahiwal, Bahawalpur and Salt Range; power transmission lines and LNG pipelines, Peshawar-Karachi motorway work, while Potential Economic Zones/ Industrial Parks in Punjab include Minerals Economic Processing Zones in Salt Range (antimony), Chiniot (iron ore), and Industrial Economic Zones/Parks in Sialkot, Gujranwala, Rawat, Lahore, Sundar, Multan and Vehari.
Ahsan Iqbal told the political leaders that working group comprising representatives of the provinces would study the feasibility of setting up of viable economic zones along the Western, Eastern and Central routes.
He invited the representatives of political parties for their input and suggestions in this regard. He said the projects along the Western alignment would be completed by 2016.