Concerned Pak Cabinet reviews sluggish pace of CPEC power projects

A concerned Pakistan Cabinet met here to review the sluggish pace of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related projects, especially those linked to ending load shedding before the May 2018 deadline.

Chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the meeting considered a proposal to set up a special monitoring committee to ensure smooth implementation. However, Ministers for Planning and Finance -- Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal and Ishaq Dar -- vetoed the idea and argued that the pace of development on CPEC-specific electricity generation projects was satisfactory, reports Dawn.

"The future of the PML-N boils down to one point, which is the fulfilment of our promise to end loadshedding within five years. Otherwise, opposition parties will not spare us," they said.

In a press statement issued after the meeting, Sharif stressed that prevention of load shedding projects were of top priority for the government, and accordingly, concerted efforts should be made to ensure timely progress.

The statement added that the completion of early-harvest projects would go a long way in ensuring the elimination of load shedding by the summer of 2018.