KHAIRPUR: (APP) A national seminar on the "Geographical Importance of China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its Impact on the Economy of Pakistan" was held at Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur on Wednesday.
The one-day seminar was organized by the Department of Geography. Prof. Dr. Mumtaz Hussain Mahar, Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences presided.
Addressing the seminar he said that, China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a revolution in the field of finance. Under CPEC, China would invest 46 Billion in Pakistan in various areas of economy including transportation and energy sectors.
Prof. Dr. Ahsanullah Khattak presented his paper on CPEC: Prospects and Constraints. He said, The China's One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative covers countries and regions with a total population of 4.4 billion and a total economic volume of US$ 21 trillion. The CPEC is the foundation for regional cooperation, improving economic growth, offering trade diversifications, investing in transportation, mining and energy sectors and creating political flexibility.
The completion of Gwadar would make it the economic hub of Balochistan and create a strategic nexus between Pakistan, China and Central Asia, generating billions in revenue and providing shorter land routes up to approximately 10000 km. It would provide links from the Caspian Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, and enable Gwadar to compete with Persian Gulf ports.
The prospects of mega project are Diverse Investment Opportunities, Industrial Cooperation, Financial Cooperation, Agricultural Cooperation, Tourism, Educational linkage, Human resource development, Health Care and people to people contact.
The CPEC project also calls for construction of railways to connect Gwadar Port to Pakistan's railway system at Jacobabad, with eventual construction of a railway line all the way to China's Xinjiang province 3,000 kilometers away via the proposed Khunjerab Railway.
A 300 million rupee study to establish feasibility of constructing the 682 kilometer rail line between Havelian and the Chinese border is already underway.
Earlier, Mr. Noor Hussain Chandio, Incharge, Department of Geography welcomed the audience and highlighted the significance of geography of Pakistan. He said the geography is permanent feature.
CPEC is also part of geography. Chandio remarked that Pakistan is junction of world economy and front line state against the terrorism.
Prof. Dr. Taj Muhammad Lashari, Prof. Dr. Amir Ali Chandio, Shahida Amir Chandio, Sarfraz Korejo, Professor Liaquat Ali Chandio, Mumtaz Bukhari and large number of teachers and students attended the seminar.