ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Wednesday incumbent government has made prudent policies to ensure equal opportunities for the development in all provinces.

He said this in a high-level meeting held in Islamabad to review the progress of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Addressing the meeting, Iqbal said CPEC will benefit all provinces of the country and an amount of $35bn will be spent on under-developed areas under the CPEC framework.

“CPEC is a fusion of vision 2025 and China’s ‘One Road One Belt’ for future growth and development of the region,” Iqbal said.

He said that the next phase of the development will include the establishment of the industrial and economic zone along the CPEC route through local and Chinese investment.

Iqbal reaffirmed that Pakistan has become the point of attraction for foreign investors and many international firms are ready to invest in Pakistan.

Referring to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the minister said that CPEC would also bring about economic and industrial improvement in KPK and after completion of development projects, KPK will have thousands of employment opportunities.

Iqbal further said that three universities being established on the Western route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in FATA and Balochistan will start functioning this year to produce the quality human resource from these areas for the projects being implemented under the CPEC framework.

He said that CPEC is 15 years long project to be completed in 2030 by focusing on infrastructure development, Gwadar Sea Port, Energy and Industrial Cooperation.

Moreover, the minister said that Gwadar Port will be linked with national highways and motorways.

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pervaiz Khattak and the senior federal and provincial officials also attended the meeting.