CPEC not given proper attention by last govt: Khusro

ISLAMABAD, Oct 01 (APP):Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Khusro Bakhtiar Monday said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was not given proper attention during the tenure of previous government.
Speaking in the National Assembly, the minister said the present government had made an important decision to include the third party in CPEC.
He said the last regime did not take proper steps for the development Gwadar, but the present government had full focus on it and develop at an oil city. Not a single special economic zone had been set up under CPEC as the previous government did not take any measures in that regard, he added.
Khusro Bakhtiar said the present government had had taken steps to correct the budget, which was announced by the previous regime. The current account deficit at present was $18 billion, he added.
He said the power generated through hydel sources in 1985 was 62 percent of the total generation, which had today reduced to 26 percent. The country’s foreign debts had reached $ 95 billion, he added.
He said the last government during its five-year tenure presented artificial economic figures while the investment by the private sector was minimal.
Khusro Bakhtiar said during the last five years oil prices remained low and the last government got benefit of $32 billion, but it did not spend nothing on the people’s welfare.
The minister said the previous government had included 485 new schemes in the budget 2018-19 in which 343 were unapproved, which was sheer violation of planning discipline. Only Rs 55 billion were allocated for the purpose, he added.