Massive Chinese investment in Pakistan to bring economic revolution: Gilgit-Baltistan CM

Shafqat Ali

Lahore, May 30: GB Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid said on Saturday afternoon that the massive investment by China in Pakistan was destined to bring economic revolution in the country.

Speaking to journalists here after his visit to ‘Challenge Textile Factory’ established with a cost of $ 150 million by the Chinese group on the Lahore-Multan Road, billions of dollars of Chinese investment under CPEC projects were bringing economic revolution in Pakistan, including GB.

The GB chief minister said the federal government was ensuring provision of proper CPEC share to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, which was evident from the fact that the present government had increased GB development funds from mere Pakistani Rs 2-10 billion.

He said that China's Challenge Group had committed with GB government to provide employment immediately to 150 people of Gilgit-Baltistan in this factory and later this number would be increased to 2000 individuals for which they were grateful to this Group.

CM Khurshid said the CPEC hydropower projects being constructed in GB were connected to the country's national grid.

“Unfortunately, Gilgit-Baltistan is not under the national grid. I have spoken to Federal Minister Asad Omar about it, who has assured me of resolving this issue on a priority basis,” he added.

Earlier, briefing Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid about Chinese investment, Pakistani businessman Qamar Khan Bobby said that currently, 3,000 individuals were working in the Challenge Group's textile industrial unit and this number would soon reach up to 5,000 workers.

He added that Challenge Fashion Export Park was also being set up on Kasur Road which would revolutionize the textile industry of Pakistan.