He said that the CPEC is a project of the entire Pakistan and will connect all the regions with development and bring about prosperity. He said that Karakoram Highway is being upgraded and industrial parks are being set up. He said that framework agreement of all the projects will be signed which were in principle agreed during the sixth JCC meeting. An official said that the meeting has finalized 330MW power project for Gwadar and special economic zones at Hattar for the next JCC.
Iqbal said that first day meeting of the JCC will be attended by the senior officials and second day by the leadership, and vice chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission is coming to Pakistan to attend the leadership day session of JCC. "We have invited chief ministers of the provinces and sent invitations to Pakistani chambers of commences as their participation is important in the second phase of industrial sector of CPE." The government, he said, wanted to include private sector in the industrial phase of the CPEC. The minister said that projects of the provinces have been included and all the participants - chief minister and governor of KP, Prime Minister AJK and representatives of other provinces and deputy speaker GB - "will take national stance with Chinese delegation during the next JCC meeting."
The minister said that industrial zones and projects of CPEC will create employment opportunities in the country. National Highways Authority (NHA) has given a detailed briefing to the chief minister of KPK on western route of CPEC and other projects initiated in the province, he added.
Ahsan Iqbal has already directed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to implement a standardized tax policy in consultation with the provincial governments for Chinese companies operating in Pakistan. A standard operating procedure (SOP) of FBR will effectively handle tax-related matters of the CPEC and assist provinces to implement a standardized policy for sales tax exemptions on hydropower projects under the CPEC. The main issue is related to the exemption of sales tax on construction and related services for hydropower projects. A uniform sales tax exemption policy for hydropower projects under the CPEC is required to ensure maximum investment and enhance investor confidence in the CPEC projects.
KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said that "we all are unanimous on CPEC" and stated that he praised the NHA for constructing new route from Gilgit to Chitral. However, he added he expects from the NHA to further speed up while Governor KP Zafar Iqbal Jhagra underlined the need for setting up industrial zones in FATA.
AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider said he was grateful to Sharif for doubling the AJK development budget and making AJK part of the CPEC. Deputy Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly said that four projects of the provincial government including two power projects have been approved for including in the CPEC. He said that feasibility study of special economic zones has also been handed over to Board of Investment (BoI).
Replying to questions, he said a few protestors at the entrance of Islamabad want violence and also possess weapons. He said the government does not want a Model Town-like situation and is therefore acting very cautiously. People of twin cities are suffering because of them and stated there is faith of every Muslim with respect to Finality of Prophethood that no one can think of making any change in it.
He also maintained that the protesters have given undertaking to the Punjab government before marching towards the federal capital that they would disperse after recording their protest. "We want to exhaust all options before moving toward the final choice of taking action against them," he said adding that the government was holding dialogues with them at various levels. The Minister said all the political parties have voted for the amendment that was approved and subsequently reversed.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017