CPEC Centre of Excellence has been Launched

The CPEC Centre of Excellence has been launched recently. The objective of this center is to promote research and knowledge- based policy- making in Pakistan. It was inaugurated by Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Professor Ahsan Iqbal and Ambassador of China to Pakistan, Sub Weidong.

Mr. Ahsan Iqbal hoped while addressing the ceremony held in this regard that researchers at the centre would guide the policy-makers and businessmen to get the most out of CPEC and they would also help to ensure that the project continues in the right way.

He also motivated the researchers to build linkages with international scholars and come up with top notch research for Pakistan as well as the entire region. The mega project had proved as a big thing for the country’s economy as the economy had turned around from its very bad condition in 2013 to a very robust condition within very little time, Mr. Iqbal continued.

“In 2013, the world was terming the Pakistan economy as the worst and no investor was ready to invest even US $100 in Pakistan, then Pakistan’s time-tested friend China moved forward and initiated the $46 billion mega project”.

Mr. Iqbal rejected the idea that the CPEC would prove to be great for China alone and said that a huge inflow of investment was pouring into Pakistan that is sure to benefit the local industry.

The Chinese Ambassador also stated that CPEC had become symbol of Pakistan China long living friendship.He also stated that 18 early harvest projects worth $18.5 billion of CPEC were under construction at the moment and are likely to be completed by 2018. Pakistan economy had made great progress in the recent years and the international credit rating agencies were rating its economy as good, he expressed. In addition, Mr. Weidong also stated that the country’s energy demand would surpass 33000 MW and CPEC energy projects of over 11000 MW would help meet the gap of energy.