*ISLAMABAD: *Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal on Monday said that GwadarPort will emerge as the top sea port of Asia after completion of theChina-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

“The CPEC has become one of the top regional cooperation projects in theworld which will connect Central Asia, China, and South Asia,” said Iqbal,who also holds the portfolio of minister for planning, development andreforms, while addressing the Boao Forum for Asia in China.

The minister said, “The CPEC is proving to be oxygen for Pakistan as thecountry’s economic growth increased due to huge investment being made ininfrastructure and energy sectors under the mega project.”

The minister said that all groups and political parties in the country weresupporting the project to ensure its success.

He said that Pakistan Vision 2025 was meant not only for development butits main target was also to eradicate poverty from the country.

Iqbal said the CPEC helped the country to come out of energy crisis andwith the uninterrupted supply of electricity to industries, the industrialproduction had significantly increased besides creation of thousands of newjob opportunities.

He said under the CPEC, nine industrial zones were being constructed acrossthe country which would create numerous new job opportunities. – APP