Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that he is mulling to hold talks with insurgents in Balochistan so that hostile elements, including India, could not use them to spread chaos.
“It is possible that they [insurgents] have grievances and India [can] use them to spread anarchy,” the premier said on Monday while addressing the business community in Gwadar.
PM Imran said his government has announced the historic development package for Balochistan, saying that the country’s development is linked with the province.
In the past, he said, neither the Center nor the local leaders had done justice with the province which deepened the grievances of the local people.
Earlier while addressing a ceremony in connection with the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for several projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the premier said: “We now have to focus fully on Gwadar’s development as doing so will benefit the province as well as the country.”
PM Imran said that Pakistan’s development was linked with Balochistan and Gwadar will be developed at all costs.
The premier directed the authorities to ensure progress in Gwadar on a month-to-month basis, saying there shouldn’t be any impediments in this regard.
He observed that Balochistan lacked connectivity and that hampered socio-economic development of the people there, giving rise to subversive activities in the province.
“Those who like unrest attempt to take the local people on board to carry-out their activities.”The premier laid special emphasis on investment in the country, saying it was directly related with development.
He further stated that a one-window operation was being started to facilitate investors, especially the local investors, businesses and industries.
The development on CPEC, specifically on Gwadar, will be monitored directly from the Prime Minister House, he added.
Afghanistan situation
He said Gwadar will serve to connect the Central Asian countries. However, he added, that the only concern for all the countries is peace in Afghanistan.
The premier added that Pakistan will work with countries neighbouring Afghanistan to help establish peace in Kabul.
“All stakeholders are striving to establish peace in Afghanistan,” he observed. “A civil war in Afghanistan would mean that trade contacts with Central Asian countries would be cut-off.”
He went on to add that, “We would also try to talk to the Taliban to enable a political settlement in Afghanistan.”
During his day-long visit, the premier performed the ground-breaking of the second phase of the Gwadar Free Zone, spread at 2,200 acres, as well as three factories.
He also witnessed the signing of a MoU for the setting up of 1.2 MGD desalination plant to resolve the issue of drinking water unavailability in Gwadar.
Other agreements included Beijing’s grant for providing solar generators to South Balochistan and North Gwadar Free Zone and Enterprises.
'China committed to CPEC'
Addressing the participants, Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong said China was committed to developing the CPEC project.
"We are committed to push forward with the program to ensure Pakistan's economic development," he said.
The envoy added that Beijing would provide strong support to Islamabad, both geo-politically and geo-economically.
"The project will bring about an economy of a great scale, create more job opportunities and enhance manufacturing [sector]."
"China will move ahead to build close China-Pakistan community and a shared future," he remarked.
CPEC, he noted, is a pilot project guided by shared contribution. "May CPEC prosper day by day and may the Pak-China friendship last forever."
Earlier, the premier performed ground-breaking of North Gwadar Free Zones, enterprises in Gwadar FZ, Gwadar expo building, implementation agreement for a 1.2MGD desalination plant and other projects.
He was briefed on the ongoing development projects in the area and the progress made so far in this regard.
The PM arrived in the city on a day-long visit to review the projects. He was accompanied by members of the federal cabinet.
Chairman China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa, Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal and other Pakistani and Chinese officials also spoke on the occasion.
