Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has stressed that Pakistan will not let anyone affect its close relations with China.
The caretaker PM was speaking with scholars and researchers from think tanks at the CPEC roundtable meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.
He further said the Pak-China eternal friendship has been established at every opportunity, and no relationship is more important for Pakistan than that with China.
“Thanks to CPEC, the working landscape of Pakistan has changed in the last 10 years,” Kakar commented, adding that the revolutionary multi-billion-dollar project was advancing the national agenda of sustainable development.
The CPEC has modernized Pakistan's infrastructure, he said further, adding that the projects will provide development opportunities to the Pakistani youth.
The project has played a central role in providing employment opportunities, poverty reduction, and rural development, Kakar told the audience, adding that the CPEC has paved the way for the social and economic development of the backward and weaker sections.
The PM also called the CPEC a source of development and prosperity for the people of Balochistan, adding that the corridor was a symbol of the strategic trust between China and Pakistan.
“By expanding the CPEC to Afghanistan, we are paving the way for development in the region,” Kakar stressed, adding that China and Pakistan were determined to make Gwadar the center of regional communication.
Kakar also said Pakistan was prepared to welcome new partners to benefit from the project.
“With CPEC, we have built 800 kilometres of new roads, highways network, while 8,000 megawatts of electricity was added to the national grid,” he added.
Under the CPEC, More than 200,000 job opportunities have been created, said the prime minister, and invited the Chinese investors to invest in green energy projects.
The trade corridor between Xinjiang and Gilgit-Baltistan will be improved, Kakar said, adding the visit to Ürümqi city will be important for investment in Pakistan.
After the meeting, the PM shared his sentiments on his X account, saying he was proud of the progress made, which elevated Pakistan's socio-economic landscape and strengthened the bond with China.
"As we reflect on successes, we're geared up for its next phase, focusing on growth, innovation, and green development," he added.
