Govt defends establishment of CPEC Authority.

Byline: Jamal Shahid

ISLAMABAD -- The government has defended the necessity of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority which enhanced scope after inclusion of socio-economic, agriculture and industrial development, and third party participation.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning and Development met here on Tuesday to discuss the need for the government's bill regarding the CPEC Authority, which was set up through a presidential ordinance on Oct 5.

Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have rejected the government's act of setting up the CPEC Authority through the presidential ordinance.

The PML-N termed it an 'illegal' move in violation of recommendations of the parliamentary committee concerned. PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal had said the establishment of the authority through the presidential ordinance was a 'backdoor legislation' and his party would not accept it.

Additional Planning Secretary Waqarul Hassan informed the NA committee about the requirement to strengthen institutional structure of the authority for future policy directions and utilisation of all available resources.

According to him, a retired lieutenant general had been appointed chairman of the CPEC Authority and rules for the position have been formulated. 'Appointment rules for the post of chief executive officer, who will be from the Civil Service, executive directors and members [of CPEC Authority] are in process of formulation. These officials will be appointed by the prime minister,' he added.

Mr Hassan said the CPEC Authority would serve as an interface with the Chinese side for identifying new areas of cooperation and projects, besides facilitation, coordination and monitoring of CPEC-related activities. Apart from inter-provincial and...