ISLAMABAD, Jan 28 (APP):Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser Tuesday said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a game changer not only for Pakistan but the whole region.
During meeting with Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Fida Muhammad Nashad, he said Gilgit-Baltistan was the gateway to China and beyond thus progress and prosperity of the region was directly linked with the CPEC.
Chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Capt (R) Sikander Ali also accompanied the Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan, said a press release issued here.
Asad Qaiser said the CPEC had enormous potential to reshape the economic outlook of the regional states.
He said the present government strongly believed that socio-economic development of all the provinces was imperative for development of the country.
The speaker said the government had paid special focus on infrastructure development of Gilgit-Baltistan which was gateway to China and central Asia.
He said Gilgit-Baltistan was blessed with rich tourism, mineral and human potential. He said that development of tourism potential would attract foreign tourists giving a boost to the economy of the country through job creation and business activity.
Fida Muhammad said Gilgit-Baltistan was an integral part of the country and frontline of defense against any Indian aggression.
He said that people of Gilgit-Baltistan considered them patriot Pakistanis and were actively contributing towards national development.
Acknowledging the substantial financial allocation made by the federal government, he said that major infrastructure, health, education and skill development projects had been carried out in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said that people of Gilgit-Baltistan were actively engaged in economic opportunities created after the advent of the CPEC projects.
Fida Muhammad apprised the speaker about the ongoing socio-economic development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He also shared the structure of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, legislation enacted and its committees.
Later, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovinian Mr. Sakib Foric called on Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser in Parliament House.
During meeting with Bosnian Ambassador, the speaker said that Pakistan attached immense importance to its ties with Bosnia and wanted to enhance them through enhanced parliamentary interaction besides cooperation in diverse sectors.
He said th CPEC had provided opportunity for Pakistan to become a logistic and economic hub for South Asia, Central and Western Asia, Middle East and Western China.
Asad Qaiser said that immense economic opportunities welcomed foreign investors to take advantage of immense economic potential in the Pakistan.
The speaker asked the ambassador to convey invitation to his Bosnian counterpart to visit Pakistan.
Referring to the ongoing human catastrophe in Indian Occupied Kashmir, the Speaker said Bosnia being the Member of the European Union should support resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the aspiration of people of Kashmir and UN resolutions.
The speaker said that 177 days of lockdown in Indian Occupied Kashmir had turned the valley into a virtual jail with height of human miseries.
He also said the adoption of Indian Citizenship Act was against the international norms and had also exposed the democratic facade of India.
The ambassador said ” Bosnia attaches importance to its relations with Pakistan since Pakistan was one of the few countries to extend assistance to his country after it came to being.”
He said that his country also strongly desired to cement its bilateral relations with Pakistan. The ambassador said that the interaction between the parliamentarians would further pave the way for enhancing cooperation in diverse sectors.
He said that Kashmir issue was a longstanding dispute and needed to be resolved in accordance with UN resolution. He said Bosnia had been subjected to worst human crises in the past thus knew the gravity of the situation.
