Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Projects, has been dubbed “Mr CPEC” by China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Nong Rong in recognition of his contributions to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Cause.
On Wednesday, Ahsan Iqbal, who is in China, pleaded for the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other pertinent organisations to give the Main Line-1 (ML-I), the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), and essential energy projects their full support.
He requested an early project completion during a meeting with Li Chunlin, Deputy Chairperson of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Senior officials from the Pakistan Embassy, the SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa, and Ambassador Moin ul Haque were present at the meeting.
The minister lavishly praised the leadership of the two nations for offering strategic direction to the creation of the CPEC. Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasised that the CPEC had a significant role in regional connectivity and development and was essential to Pakistan’s economic progress.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to smooth and high-quality development of the next phase of CPEC with a greater focus on developing industrial parks and Special Economic Zones.
Iqbal told the vice chairman about the measures his government took to support their projects and said that Pakistan deeply valued the contributions made by the Chinese IPPs (Independent Power Producers) in assisting Pakistan in attaining energy security.
Vice Chairman Li Chunlin thanked Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal for his support of CPEC and NDRC over the years and assured him of NDRC’s long-term dedication to establishing a high-quality CPEC.
