Pakistan President lauds Qatar ties

DOHA: Terming China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a game changer for the whole region, President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain has said that Pakistan had offered joint ventures in defence production to Qatar and other brotherly countries.
He said Pakistan had made remarkable progress in the field of defence production.
“Qatar made a deal in the past to purchase Super Mashak trainer jets from Pakistan. We have asked Qatar and other brotherly countries to start joint ventures with Pakistan in the field of defence production,” he said, adding that LNG imported from Qatar will help Pakistan end its obstinate energy crisis.
President Mamnoon Hussain said that LNG project was now in the pipeline. “Pakistan government has worked on a war footing to import LNG from Qatar,” he said, adding that import of LNG was delayed as the terminals were still under construction.
“Now LNG terminal one and two are ready; terminal three is nearing completion and terminal four has to be started.”
He said that due to the LNG deal, trade between Pakistan and Qatar had increased manyfold.
Mamnoon Hussain said that CPEC was a project of 21st century for Pakistan. “It will bring multi- dimensional progress in Pakistan economy. Central Asia will be joining CPEC on the completion of this project. The CPEC connected to Gwadar has the potential to radically change the regional dynamics of trade, development and politics. CPEC is a game changer for the entire region. It will uplift the lives of about three billion people across China, Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. China is determined to make Pakistan a success story. The $46bn economic package is a Chinese gift to the people of Pakistan.”
He said Gawadar Port would become functional in the next two months after that an international airport would also be built in Gawadar.
He said Pakistan is working on a National Action Plan to root out terrorism. “The situation has improved a lot in Karachi and Baluchistan.”
He said that the economic meltdown of Pakistan was transforming into prosperity. “Today our foreign reserves have soared to $24bn,” he added. He said Pakistan youth that comprised 50% of country’s population was frustrated due to terrorism and other factors. “But now hope is returning to their eyes,” he added. He said Pakistan was fast becoming a safe haven for investors.
He said the present government in Pakistan was striving to end energy crisis and for the purpose all available resources including coal, wind, solar power were being used to produce electricity. He said new dams were being constructed to meet energy needs hoping that load shedding would end by 2018.
Earlier, President Mamnoon Hussain visited the Pakistan Education Centre where he addressed the students and visited the facilities.