PM Imran says govt will support joint investment projects under CPEC – Pakistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan said Monday that the government will support joint investment projects involving companies from Pakistan and China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 1,320 megawatt China Hub power generation plant in Balochistan, the prime minister said he wanted to see the pattern of joint projects continue under the CPEC.

"I am happy that under CPEC, the first joint project [is being inaugurated]. We want to see the employer continue, "the prime minister said, adding that the big Chinese companies want to come to Pakistan.

"Joint projects are welcome; the government will fully support [such projects]"he said, asking the managers of the new power plant to consume at least 20 percent of coal from the Thar coal reserves.

The project "will help us reduce the current account deficit (CAD)," he added.

Prime Minister Imran said there was a large CAD when Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) assumed power and considered that the deficit left by the previous government was responsible for prevailing inflation.

The Prime Minister regretted that the country's capacity for hydropower has not been used in the past.

He also asked local and Chinese companies that built the energy project to accelerate work at a desalination plant for Karachi "since water is a big problem for the city."

The prime minister said the government is committed to fulfilling its promise to facilitate business. "Since we came to power, we have been working for the ease of doing business. We continually strive to create the ease of doing business."

The prime minister said an executive from a foreign mining company told him that Pakistan has the best and largest gold reserves in the world, which can be extracted very easily.

He noted that mining companies did not come to Pakistan just because of corruption. "I have been saying for the past 22 years that corruption is Pakistan's biggest problem," said the prime minister.

"The investment does not occur if corruption persists."

He said the country is under the burden of loans today, not because nature has deprived Pakistan of resources, but because of corruption.

The country is moving forward in CPEC projects, the prime minister said.

Addressing Balochistan's Chief Minister, Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, the prime minister said there is good news for him (Alyani) as China agreed to enter the fishing sector. "Mr. Prime Minister, you can develop Balochistan with the help of the fishing sector alone," he said.

"They (China) agreed to cooperate in the fisheries and agriculture sectors."

Prime Minister Imran stressed the need to mobilize the resources and population of the country. "We have to make our young population our asset. They will push Pakistan," he said.

He also asked the prime minister to build a Special Economic Zone in Lasbela.

Prime Minister Imran in Karachi for a one-day visit, meets with Governor Sindh

Early in the day, Prime Minister Imran met with the governor of Sindh, Imran Ismail, after arriving in Karachi for a one-day visit, Pakistan Radio reported.

The prime minister also planned to meet with MNA and AMP of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Great Democratic Alliance (GDA). He will also meet with a delegation from a transportation company to discuss transportation issues in the metropolis, Pakistan Radio additional.

The prime minister will be informed about the ongoing development projects in Karachi financed by the federal government.

According to a publication shared on the Facebook page of the Prime Minister, he is accompanied by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Azam Khan Swati, the Minister of Planning and Development, Khusro Bakhtiyar, the Federal Minister of Water Resources, Faisal Vawda, the special assistant of the first Minister for oil, Nadeem Babar, and unconditional PTI Asad Umar.