Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong on Friday felicitated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Ahsan Iqbal on becoming the planning minister for the fourth time.

Zaidong called on Iqbal in Islamabad. On this occasion, both leaders exchanged views on five new economic corridors in line with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The new economic corridors will be established in line with the 5Es framework. A joint working group will be formed in this regard.

The new corridors are aimed at employment, innovation, green energy, and regional development.

The two countries will prepare a concept paper on new economic corridors.

PTI founder bearing brunt of his ‘incompetence’: Ahsan Iqbal

Few days back, Iqbal said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder was bearing the brunt of his "incompetence”.

Speaking exclusively on Samaa TV, Iqbal said: “It is not fair to say that the PTI has the majority. We are having a two-thirds majority.”

He recalled the ouster of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, saying, “Nawaz Sharif was ousted in an engineered way.”.

Few days back, Iqbal said: “Hopefully, there will be no political confrontation.”.

Talking about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Iqbal said: “It is a positive development that the KP chief minister came to meet the premier. What Ali Amin Gandapur had said was a ray of hope.”

He recalled the previous tenure of the PML-N, saying, “Between 2013 and 2018, the country had witnessed development.”

Iqbal emphasised the need to achieve political stability in the country. “When we made Vision 2010, nobody had such a plan.”

"Today, Bangladesh and India have surpassed us,” he lamented.

He admitted that the country was facing severe economic hardships.