Pak commerce chambers concerned at China's plan to set up industry along CPEC route

The "golden industrial triangle" of Pakistan comprising chambers of commerce and industry of Gujrat, Gujranwala and Sialkot cities has expressed grave concern over China's reported plan of establishing industrial units and warehouses along the route of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The leadership of these three chambers has urged the federal government to take the business community of these industrial cities in confidence about the nature of China's planned industrial units in the country, reports the Dawn.

The chamber heads warned of the adverse effects such industrial units as it could harm local industry and apprehending that such a scenario might turn Pakistan into a purely consumer market, further weakening its own manufacturing sector.

They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which these chambers would share information with each other and hold at least four joint meetings of these chambers annually. A large number of the members of these chambers were also present.

The meeting decided that the chambers' presidents would also hold an exclusive meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to share their concerns over the Chinese industrial units along the CPEC route. It regretted the government had not taken the chambers in confidence over the issue.