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Pakistan FO spokesperson rejects Alice Wells claims on CPEC
Irfan Ali
23 January, 2020 12:06
Pakistan FO spokesperson rejects Alice Wells claims on CPEC during her weekly press briefing in Islamabad today.
On behalf of the government, she said Pakistan categorically rejected as baseless the claims that China Pakistan Economic Corridor project is always in the form of loans or non-concessional financing with sovereign guarantees.
Pakistan FO spokesperson rejects
She said this while answering the queries of media persons regarding US diplomat Alice Wells recent remarks against the corridor project.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui clarified that the total CPEC debt is about 4.9 billion dollars which is not even the ten percent of the country’s total debt.
The spokesperson noted CPEC a long-term project negotiated through a multi-layered process. She further said it has helped Pakistan to address development gaps in energy, infrastructure, industrialization and job creation.
She stressed that it should be perceived in terms of enormous economic benefits for the people of Pakistan and social economic development.
Farooqui said we believe it is also beneficial for regional connectivity and prosperity.
The spokesperson said Pakistan and China are all weather strategic cooperative partners.
The CPEC is a transformational project for Pakistan and its expeditious completion is our top priority.
Benefits of CPEC
In that regard, a CPEC authority has recently been established to oversee completion of the projects.
She said 12 corridor related power projects have either been completed or are under construction.
These projects had the total capacity of seven thousand two hundred and forty megawatts with an investment of 12.4 billion dollars.
Another nine power projects remain at an early stage with the capacity of six thousand three hundred and ninety megawatt.
She pointed out that these energy projects contribute over14 percent of the total energy supplies in Pakistan.
Furthermore, she said these projects have also paid about two hundred and fifty million dollars in taxes during the construction phase and have created over ten thousand jobs.
The FO spokeswoman underlined the fact that Pakistan welcomes all countries to invest in special economic zones of CPEC.
FATF Pakistan
While responding to a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan has taken a whole range of steps to meet the requirements of the FATF.
He said we remain closely engaged with the FATF members including the United States.
However, Aisha Farooqui said Pakistan welcomes US President Donald Trump’s mediation offer on Kashmir dispute and hoped these will be translated into some actions.
S-400 Airt Defense system
On question regarding India’s induction of S-400 Air Defense system, Aisha Farooqui said Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concerns over the induction of ballistic missile defense system in our region.
She said such destabilizing systems can undermine regional stability and may lead to an unnecessary arms race.
She said Pakistan has proposed discussion on a strategic restraint regime for South Asia which includes the proposal to avoid the induction of the destabilizing weapons.
The spokesperson said the induction of ballistic missile defense system by India should not lead to any false sense of security and any misadventure since Pakistan has the technological capability to ensure the continued efficacy of its deterrence.
Pakistan FO spokesperson rejects
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