Some foreign elements are trying to sabotage CPEC: Nawaz Sharif

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday accused "foreign elements" of trying to sabotage the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project through PoK, an ambitious venture that has raised India's concerns. He said the project was not against any country.

Sharif was addressing the All Parties Conference called to brief political leader on the project unveiled during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit in April.

Sharif said that the project was aimed at economic progress of the entire region as it would help boost trade and improve connectivity.

Without naming any country, he said that "some foreign forces", which were against the close working of Pakistan with China, were trying to sabotage the CPEC. He said they must realise that the project was beneficial for the entire region. He asked countrymen to forge united front for the success of the project.

"The nation must stand united to foil the nefarious designs against the CPEC as those projects were not for a party or an individual, rather were for the country's development," he said.

Sharif said that the region was home to three billion population and the improved connectivity would help the area get out of the isolation of the past. He said Pakistan government would do its best to remove any ambiguities about the economic corridor.

Sharif said every government in power must work for the progress of Pakistan and should endeavour to hand over the country to the next government in a better condition. He said different projects under the corridor would be beneficial for the nation.

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal gave a comprehensive briefing to the participants about the economic corridor and said it was not merely confined to a specific route, rather it was a concept that encompassed all areas of the country.

He said that the project having several roads, energy generation projects, railways and business centers would be completed by 2030, but its short term benefits would be visible by 2018.

Former President Asif Ali Zardari said the Pakistan Peoples Party fully supported the economic corridor.