Development projects in Gawdar under CPEC to be resumed at the same spirit of 2013: Ahsan Iqbal

GAWDAR, May 17 (SABAH): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry on Tuesday said that the development projects in Gawdar under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be resumed at the same spirit of 2013 and all issues will be resolved amicably.

Speaking at the University of Gwadar on a day visit, the Minister said development of the country is linked with the development of Gawdar which is the gateway of South Asia. He said that the incumbent government has taken several initiatives to make the CPEC projects successful in Gawdar. The Minister said that the previous government tried to make CPEC controversial. However, the current government has been spending on the people along with development projects. CPEC projects are among the priorities of the current government.

Ahsan Iqbal said that last time he came in Gawdar four years back and inaugurated several projects but unfortunately, previous government deliberately delayed them.  The Minister further said that higher education is a top priority of the government and several initiatives were taken in 2013 for Higher Education in Gawdar. As the level of education declines, so as the process of development.

Efforts are being made to complete the campus of the university in Next 2-3 years. We will make this university a center of excellence. The region of Balochistan has a key position, said the Minister, adding that prejudice can be countered by imparting more education in the society.

Professor Ahsan Iqbal also said that differences need to be resolved through dialogue and not through violence as progress in the world is possible only through knowledge, research and exploration. In 2017, process of building new dams were started in Gwadar but due to the negligence of the previous government, it is delayed. The Islamabad Metro project was unnecessarily delayed for four years. Transmission line projects in Gwadar will be completed soon. Hospitals in Gwadar will be upgraded as well, he added. Furthermore, he said that more scholarships will be awarded to the students of Gwadar.