ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, and Parliamentary Affairs, Murtaza Solangi, said on Wednesday that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had substantially transformed the socio-economic scenario of Pakistan by addressing the dire energy crisis and crumbling infrastructure.
The CPEC has infused trust, hope, and confidence in Pakistani people, the minister said while delivering a keynote address at the 8th CPEC Media Forum.
He said that prior to the CPEC, Pakistan had been facing daunting challenges that included ten-hour blackouts, a 2500 MW electricity deficit, and 250 billion dollars in economic loss.
Solangi said that CPEC projects had profound positive effects on the lives of the local population with the provision of employment opportunities.
He said the CPEC eventually expedited the economic development process in Pakistan, and so far, multiple projects had been completed in the energy field alone. CPEC considerably boosted Pakistan’s economic development.
CPEC Creates Employment Opportunities
Solangi said that CPEC is not just an infrastructure project; it has produced 2,36,000 jobs since 2013 and is set to generate 1.2 million direct jobs, contributing to local workforce development and reducing regional disparities.
The minister said the project had significantly enhanced Pakistan’s economic development, contributing to a projected annual increase of 2 to 2.5 percentage points.
Going beyond the urban centers, Solangi said the CPEC had addressed regional development gaps, fostering development through various projects in the country.
