Mushtaq Ahmed Mehar (Former Ambassador): Pakistan has close, friendly and decades old ties with China. China was the only country that invested heavily in different sectors of Pakistan when the other countries were hesitant due the threat of terrorism in the country. The President of Pakistan has rightly said that the partnership between Pakistan and China will continue to flourish in every sector for the mutual benefit. With the support of China and through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project, Pakistan has managed to improve its infrastructure, overcome energy crisis and completed various development projects. Despite the conspiracies against this mega project by different countries, the CPEC is going on with good momentum. Pakistan will be connected with the international markets through CPEC and our trade relations will improve.

Mirza Ikhtiyar Baig (Economist): The crux of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project will be the establishment of nine special economic zones in all the provinces of the country. These economic zones will provide job opportunities to our youth and there will be economic development as well. In the first phase of the project, 10,000MW electricity was added to the national grid that reduced the problem of load-shedding. In the second phase, the focus was on infrastructure and development of Gwadar Port. We hope that the present government, with its determination and good understanding with the Chinese officials, will manage to complete the CPEC within specified time. The President while addressing a Roundtable Conference on CPEC has said that Pakistan will soon emerge as a strong country in the comity of nations. Many countries including Turkey, Russia and others are willing to become part of this game changing project.