China’s development a model for Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Muzzamil Aslam

PESHAWAR, Sep 29 (APP): Finance Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muzzamil Aslam on Tuesday said that China’s extraordinary economic development offers a model worth emulating for Pakistan, demonstrating that the mere availability of natural resources did not guarantee a nation’s prosperity.

Rather, genuine success lies in transforming natural resources, human potential and geographical advantages into sustainable economic growth through effective planning.

He was addressing, as chief guest, a ceremony organised by China Window Peshawar to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and its National Day.

The ceremony was attended by Acting Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Muhammad Hassan Moazzami, Member of the Provincial Assembly Mehar Sultana, President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Junaid Altaf, Administrator China Window Amjad Aziz Malik, representatives of the business community, journalists, officials of various organisations and prominent personalities from different walks of life.

Congratulating the Chinese government, leadership and people on their National Day on behalf of the Government and people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muzzamil Aslam said China’s National Day was also an occasion of joy for the people of Pakistan, as China had remained Pakistan’s trusted and longstanding friend for more than seven decades.

The provincial minister said China’s remarkable progress had demonstrated that the possession of natural resources alone was not sufficient to ensure prosperity. What mattered was how effectively a country utilised its resources through human resource development, policy continuity, modern technology, industrialisation and long-term economic planning.

Muzzamil Aslam said Pakistan needed to learn from China’s experience in transforming natural resources into real economic strength.

China, he observed, had not treated infrastructure development merely as a construction activity but had linked it with industrialisation, trade, employment generation and regional development.

Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Finance Minister described it as a historic milestone in Pakistan-China economic relations.

He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor should not be viewed merely in terms of highways, power plants and major infrastructure projects. Its broader objective was to strengthen economic connectivity, promote industrial activity, expand trade and integrate different regions of Pakistan into the wider regional economic system.

Muzzamil Aslam invited Chinese investors to explore investment opportunities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that enormous potential existed in energy, minerals, tourism, agriculture, information technology, infrastructure and industry.

The provincial Finance Minister also appreciated the role of China Window in promoting people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and China.

He congratulated Administrator China Window Amjad Aziz Malik and his entire team for their efforts to bring the peoples of Pakistan and China closer through educational, cultural and public diplomacy initiatives.

Addressing the ceremony, Acting Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran Muhammad Hassan Moazzami congratulated the government and people of China on their National Day.

He said China had emerged as an important force in regional and global economic cooperation and that greater connectivity, trade and people-to-people interaction across the region could create new opportunities for shared prosperity, stability and development in Asia.

He said the countries of the region were rich in human and natural resources, and greater economic and cultural interaction could open new avenues of cooperation for their peoples. Member of the Provincial Assembly Mehar Sultana said China’s development was practical evidence of the importance of education, skills development and the effective participation of young people and women in national progress.

She said Pakistan could benefit considerably from greater educational and cultural exchanges with China, particularly by providing students and young professionals with more opportunities to acquire modern technical and vocational skills.

Prominent industrialist Haji Mukhtiaruddin said the business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was keen to further expand business-to-business relations with China.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa possessed tremendous investment potential in minerals, hydropower, tourism, agriculture, industry and several other sectors.

Greater interaction between Chinese investors and the local business community, he added, could play an important role in transforming this potential into productive economic activity.

On behalf of Peshawar’s business community, Haji Mukhtiaruddin extended warm greetings to the Chinese people on their National Day. Supreme Court Advocate and Pakistan Muslim League-Q leader Habib Qureshi congratulated the Chinese people on the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on behalf of the legal community.

He expressed confidence that the time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China would continue to grow stronger and reach new heights in the years ahead.

Christian community leader Augustine Jacob extended National Day greetings to the Chinese people on behalf of the minority community and expressed his best wishes for China’s continued progress and prosperity.

China Window Director Naz Parveen said the celebration of China’s National Day in Pakistan, particularly in Peshawar, reflected the deep affection of the Pakistani people for China and demonstrated that Pakistanis wholeheartedly shared the happiness of their Chinese friends on this important national occasion.

The speakers congratulated the Chinese leadership and people on the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and emphasised the need to further expand Pakistan-China relations in the economic, educational, cultural and people-to-people spheres.

The ceremony reflected the longstanding warmth and depth of Pakistan-China friendship, with participants reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening friendship, economic cooperation and cultural understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

A cake was also cut to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.