GWADAR: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that 52 countries want to be part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), adding that Rs 25 billion have been approved for the mega plan.
He spoke informally to media in Gwadar. He said that speculation over a reserved judgement can be detrimental to judicial decorum, in an apparent reference to the Panama Papers case in the Supreme Court.
He said currently, his entire focus is on economic progress and development of the country. The PM arrived on a two-day visit from Pasni, where he inspected the road network up to Gwadar. He was briefed by the Gwadar Development Authority director general regarding the developmental projects.
Nawaz is scheduled to chair a high-level meeting on projects initiated by CPEC in the port city and will address the public in Gwadar on Thursday (today). He is also set to visit roads and development projects falling under the CPEC in the city.
He was accompanied by Railways Minister Saad Rafique and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal as he left Karachi.
During his two-day visit to Karachi, Nawaz said the government stands for the complete religious freedom of all communities and will ensure the provision of equal rights to all citizens as enshrined in the constitution.
He spoke about various projects implemented by the federal government for the development of Karachi including a K-4 Water Supply Scheme, Green Line Bus Rapid Transit Service, and a six-lane Hyderabad Motorway that is being completed with assistance from the federal government. Earlier, Nawaz travelled on the newly built 136 km long Pasni-Gwadar Road.
The section of the road is part of the Makran Coastal Highway project.
He was received in Pasni by Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai and Chief Minister Sardar Sanaullah Zehri.
